New Orleans Pelicans: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Pelicans’ Zion Williamson says quiet part out loud about his NBA career trajectory

Zion Williamson entered the NBA as one of the most hyped-up prospects in history. He looked like a physical freak of nature back during his time in Duke, as he possessed incredible leaping ability and was unstoppable going to the rim due to his grown-man strength.

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Zion Williamson weight watch is on after completing Joe Dumars’ ‘impeccable’ challenge

The New Orleans Pelicans come into the 2026-27 season looking to get back into the playoff picture in the Western Conference. And much of the Pelicans’ potential success hinges on the availability of star forward Zion Williamson.

Zion Williamson News / Larry Brown Sports / September 28

Zion Williamson makes a brutally honest admission ahead of the season

Zion Williamson can at least say at this point that he is not in denial. The New Orleans Pelicans star Williamson spoke with reporters on Monday at team media day.

Julian Reese News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / September 26

Diving Into Julian Reese's Fit With Pelicans After Signing

The New Orleans Pelicans filled their final two-way roster spot after signing former undrafted forward Julian Reese this week. Reese is the brother of former LSU star and current WNBA player Angel Reese, but he also played with Pelicans forward Derik Queen at the University of Maryland.

Houston Rockets News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'NBA all-time scoring leaders' quiz

How many of the NBA's top 30 career scorers can you name in five minutes?

The 'Most 30-point NBA games at 35+' quiz

The '20-point NBA games leaders' quiz

The 'NBA Playoff scoring record by team' quiz

New Orleans Pelicans News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / September 25

Assessing How Much Better the Pelicans Can Really Be in 2026-27 Season

The New Orleans Pelicans can get better this season and still miss the playoffs. That's where we have to start before training camp optimism turns into playoff expectations.

NBA News / Yardbarker

The 25 greatest NBA Finals performances of all-time

The regular season is important, but NBA legends are made in the playoffs. More specifically, it's the Finals where the all-time greats have built their otherworldly reputations.

New Orleans Pelicans News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / September 24

The Most Important Weakness for the Pelicans to Fix in 2026-27

The New Orleans Pelicans entered the offseason with several obvious weaknesses. They needed more shooting, better rim protection, additional ball-handling, and a complete defensive overhaul.

Yves Missi News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / September 24

Yves Missi Has Widest Range of Possibilities of Any Pelican This Season

After a 26-win campaign last season, the New Orleans Pelicans hope for more consistency this season under new head coach Jamahl Mosley. The former Orlando Magic coach inherits a roster largely intact from last year but hopes for better results.

NBA News / Hoops Rumors / September 24

Pelicans Sign Julian Reese To Two-Way Contract

The Pelicans have signed forward Julian Reese to a two-way contract, according to the official transaction log at NBA.com. As we noted earlier today when we recapped New Orleans’ offseason moves, the team had an open two-way slot alongside Jaron Pierre Jr.

New Orleans Pelicans News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / September 24

Ranking the Pelicans' Most Important Bench Players

Projecting an NBA rotation before training camp always requires some guesswork. Injuries, lineup experiments, and unexpected performances could change everything, but the New Orleans Pelicans' most likely rotation provides a reasonable starting point.

New Orleans Pelicans News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / September 23

Herb Jones Matters More to the Pelicans Than You Might Think

It's no secret the New Orleans Pelicans have been terrible the last two seasons. Now, they're retooling the organization and the roster while still trying to answer questions that should have been settled a while ago.

New Orleans Pelicans News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / September 23

Did the Pelicans Actually Improve After DeMarcus Cousins' Injury? Revisiting the Major What-If

Former Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousins recently asserted the team didn't get better after he tore his Achilles during the 2017-18 season. It's an understandable position.

NBA News / Yardbarker

The 25 best NBA players to never play in college

Typically, the path to the NBA for most players is to spend at least a season in college to get high-level basketball and important development under their belts.

New Orleans Pelicans News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / September 21

Pelicans' Point Guard Pecking Order Is Clear — For Now

The New Orleans Pelicans will enter training camp with only two players who naturally fit the "point guard" label. However, neither Dejounte Murray nor Jeremiah Fears is a traditional floor general.

Saddiq Bey News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / September 21

One Pelican Who Should Be Thrilled About the Saddiq Bey Contract Extension

The three-year extension to keep Saddiq Bey is a win for both him and the New Orleans Pelicans. Bey was a key contributor last season, averaging a career-high 17.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

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The '100-receiving-yard playoff debuts' quiz

The 'Multiple 30/30 MLB seasons' quiz

The 'Active NFL catch leaders' quiz

The '4K-yard, 30-TD NFL seasons' quiz

Dejounte Murray News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / September 21

5 Biggest Things Dejounte Murray Must Show the Pelicans in 2025-26

Dejounte Murray's first two seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans have been defined more by rehabilitation than production. A broken hand in his 2024 Pelicans debut cost him 17 games before a torn Achilles ended his first season after only 31 games.

New Orleans Pelicans News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / September 20

Ranking Every Player Under 25 on the Pelicans' Roster

Youth is one of the things the New Orleans Pelicans have on their side. Heading into the 2026-2027 NBA season, the team has only one player over 30 (DeAndre Jordan).

NBA News / Hoops Wire / September 18

NBA Notes: Pelicans, Jordan Poole, Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton, Warriors

The Pelicans rewarded Saddiq Bey for his bounce-back season. Now comes the harder question: What do they do with Jordan Poole? Terry Kimble of NBA on SI argues that New Orleans should end the experiment after one season, and the basketball case is fairly straightforward.

Saddiq Bey News / Fadeaway World / September 18

Pelicans’ Saddiq Bey Signs 3-Year Extension: Bargain Or Overpay?

The New Orleans Pelicans agreed to a three-year, $55.5 million fully guaranteed extension with 27-year-old forward Saddiq Bey, keeping him under contract through the 2029-30 season.

New Orleans Pelicans News / EssentiallySports / September 18

Pelicans Sign Defensive Stalwart to $55.5M Deal as Fears Mount Over Zion Williamson-Led Team

The New Orleans Pelicans largely remained quiet this offseason. The only significant commitment that they made was to Saddiq Bey, handing the SG a three-year, $55.5 million contract.

Saddiq Bey News / Hoops Wire / September 17

Pelicans, Saddiq Bey agree to three-year contract extension

Saddiq Bey’s comeback season has resulted in a significant commitment from the Pelicans. Bey agreed to a three-year, $55.5 million contract extension with New Orleans, his agents told Shams Charania of ESPN.

NBA News / Yardbarker / September 16