Joe Dumars’ Bold First Offseason Reshapes Pelicans’ Future

It’s a fast-paced shift that shows Dumars wants to surround Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and Herb Jones with young legs and fresh energy, and he wants it now.

Herb Jones Gets Paid, and the Cap Gets Tight

One of the smartest, but most financially pressing moves of the Pelicans offseason was extending Herb Jones for three years, $68 million. He’s a glue guy, the kind of defender and leader every playoff team needs. But that deal also nudges the team closer to the luxury tax threshold. With the new 2025 CBA making it harder for high-spending teams to operate, Dumars is gambling that the young core will develop quickly enough to offset any lack of future flexibility.

Still Betting on Zion

Then there’s the Zion decision. Instead of dealing the oft-injured star, Dumars decided to make his $39.4 million deal fully guaranteed for the upcoming season. It’s a big, public bet that Zion can finally stay healthy and live up to the hype. If he does, the Pelicans have their centerpiece. If not, that contract could become an anchor around their neck.

Draft Capital vs. Winning Now

One of Dumars’ more eyebrow-raising moves was trading a protected 2026 first-round pick to move up slightly and grab Derik Queen. Some analysts saw that as a short-term move that could hurt long-term flexibility, especially in a hyper-competitive Western Conference where every asset counts. Still, this seems to be Dumars’ style: if he sees a player that fits, he’s going after them, future be damned.

What’s Next?

The Joe Dumars-led Pelicans offseason has set a high-stakes tone for the next two years. With less wiggle room in the cap and fewer picks to lean on, everything now hinges on development. Can Fears and Queen rise quickly? Can Poole and Bey find consistent roles? And can Zion, the biggest “if” of all, stay on the court?

Dumars is taking big swings to change the culture and push the Pelicans back into the playoff picture. Whether those swings connect or miss wildly, it’s clear he’s not here to play it safe.