New Orleans Pelicans: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

James Borrego’s Pelicans need four-layer fix for atrocious defense

The numbers are ugly, the film is worse, and the results are sinking a season of promise. Zion Williamson’s prideful New Orleans Pelicans know their defense has been a glaring, season-long vulnerability, a leaky dam threatening to wash away any NBA Play-In Tournament aspirations.

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Pelicans will not ‘force’ Jordan Poole role amid Zion Williamson return

The New Orleans Pelicans face a delicate balancing act as they welcome back key players from injury, with interim head coach James Borrego making it clear that the team won’t rush anyone into uncomfortable rotations.

New Orleans Pelicans News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / December 18

3 Pelicans Are Reportedly Attracting Interest on the Trade Market

With the 2025-2026 NBA trade season unofficially open as of December 15th, the New Orleans Pelicans find themselves in a position they didn’t expect: the center of a league-wide bidding war.

Zion Williamson News / NBA on ClutchPoints / December 18

Lou Williams declares Pelicans star Zion Williamson’s window ‘closed’

Zion Williamson’s career has been incredibly frustrating for fans to follow. The first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Williamson was drafted with the potential to be an all-time great.

Dallas Mavericks News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Youngest 40-point NBA games' quiz

How many of the NBA players to score at least 40 points in a game before turning 21 years old can you name in six minutes?

The 'NBA's youngest 35-point scorers' quiz

The 'Most points in an NBA Christmas Day game' quiz

The 'NBA 10-block triple-doubles' quiz

NBA News / Field Level Media / December 17

Pelicans enjoying rare rise with defensive-minded Rockets on horizon

The New Orleans Pelicans, last in the Western Conference, seek their first three-game winning streak of the season when they host the Houston Rockets on Thursday.

NBA News / Yardbarker

Which NBA teams have the best Christmas Day records?

Christmas and the NBA go hand-in-hand. The day serves for the top hoops league in the world, like Thanksgiving for the NFL. However, while the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys are perpetual Thanksgiving participants, the NBA has mixed up the matchups and the teams throughout the years.

NBA News / Hoops Wire / December 17

NBA Notes: Pelicans, Jordan Poole, Spurs, Dylan Harper, Nuggets

Jordan Poole is back, and the Pelicans are suddenly winning games. New Orleans has gone 2-0 since Poole returned from a quad strain after missing 18 games, the longest injury absence of his career.

NBA News / Larry Brown Sports / December 17

Jordan Poole takes high road after fan mentions Draymond Green incident

It has been three years since the infamous altercation between former teammates Jordan Poole and Draymond Green during the Golden State Warriors’ 2022 training camp, but the issue hasn’t completely gone away.

New Orleans Pelicans News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / December 16

Derik Queen's Brilliance Shouldn't Overshadow Jeremiah Fears' Impressive Rookie Campaign

Derik Queen has understandably stolen all the headlines in New Orleans through the first two months of the season. He has become an instant fan favorite with his play style reminiscent of Nikola Jokic, showcasing impressive footwork, dishing dimes all over the floor, and beasting defenders off the dribble and in the post.

Dejounte Murray News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / December 16

New Dejounte Murray Trade Rumor Could Save the Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans hoped that the Dejounte Murray acquisition in 2024 would be the final pivotal piece of the puzzle. Pairing a two-way player like Murray with Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum looked like a formidable roster to compete in the Western Conference.

New Orleans Pelicans News / EssentiallySports / December 16

Ex-Pelicans Teammate Leaks Group Chat Reaction to Zion Williamson–Moriah Mills Controversy

The New Orleans Pelicans have witnessed an eventful tenure for Zion Williamson. The most notable of those controversies was the Moriah Mills incident, which garnered significant attention in the NBA world a few years ago.

NBA News / Hoops Wire / December 15

Lakers, Warriors reportedly place trade calls to Pelicans

The Pelicans are drawing trade interest from two familiar contenders as their season continues to slide. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, both the Lakers and Warriors have reached out to New Orleans to gauge availability on key forwards.

Jeremiah Fears News / NBA Draft on SI / December 15

Jeremiah Fears Continues to Be a Rookie Standout in Win vs. Bulls

The New Orleans Pelicans have one of the weirdest situations in the NBA right now. You'd think that a 5-22 record would warrant a rebuild and a push to land a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

New Orleans Pelicans News / Hoops Wire / December 15

Pelicans’ Zion Williamson delivers off bench in first game back: ‘Felt pretty good’

Zion Williamson returned to action Sunday in an unfamiliar role, coming off the bench for the first time in his NBA career as the Pelicans managed his minutes following a right hip adductor strain.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'NFL's active TD-catch leaders' quiz

The 'Youngest 40-point NBA games' quiz

The 'Active NFL 5-passing-TD games' quiz

The 'Last 10-TD season by NFL team' quiz

Trey Murphy News / Total Apex Sports / December 15

Pelicans Find Rhythm in Chicago: Zion, Murphy III Lead Charge Past Bulls 114-104

It wasn’t pretty for the Pelicans, and for long stretches, it certainly wasn’t graceful. But when you’re sitting at the bottom of the standings trying to relearn how to win, style points don’t matter nearly as much as the final score.

NBA News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / December 14

James Borrego's Brave Derik Queen Decision Pays Off vs. Bulls

The New Orleans won their fifth game of the season on Sunday night, sweeping their season series against the Chicago Bulls. With Zion Williamson back after a six-game absence due to adductor strain and Jordan Poole playing in his second straight game, the Pelicans were healthier than they have been since the start of the season.

New Orleans Pelicans News / Field Level Media / December 14

Zion Williamson helps Pelicans nab win in return against Bulls

Zion Williamson gave his New Orleans Pelicans teammates a taste of what they have been missing the last two weeks. Trey Murphy III, along with rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, showed Williamson what the team is capable of going forward.

Jose Alvarado News / Yardbarker / December 15

Why Knicks’ interest in Jose Alvarado makes perfect sense

This move would maintain, and even improve, roster balance and financial discipline, while finally solving a problem that has lingered behind Jalen Brunson for years.

Jalen Brunson's monster night leads Knicks to NBA Cup final

Another team could join Knicks in pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo

Knicks' best and worst Giannis Antetokounmpo trade scenarios

Who is the most-iconic player for every NBA franchise?

The 'Most 40-point NBA games since the merger' quiz

New Orleans Pelicans News / NBA Draft on SI / December 12

Pelicans' Rookies Offering Hope of a Bright Future with Hot Start

On Thursday night, the New Orleans Pelicans rookies continued the transcendent start to their debut seasons. In a 23-point win over the Trail Blazers, the team’s rookies in Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen were again spectacular, which is quickly becoming par for the course for the New Orleans newbies.

New Orleans Pelicans News / Total Apex Sports / December 12

Poole’s Return Sparks Pelicans’ Historic Offensive Explosion Against Blazers 143-120

It had been nearly a month since the New Orleans Pelicans felt good about a basketball game. The locker room was quiet, the losses were piling up, and the frustration was mounting with every missed rotation and clanked rim.

NBA News / Field Level Media / December 11

Pelicans roll over Trail Blazers to end 7-game skid

Trey Murphy III scored 24 points as the New Orleans Pelicans snapped a seven-game skid with a 143-120 win over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.

New Orleans Pelicans News / NBA Draft on SI / December 10

Could Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen Turn the Pelicans Around?

The New Orleans Pelicans have the NBA's worst record with just three wins compared to 22 losses. Now more than ever this decade, the franchise appears headed for a complete rebuild.

New Orleans Pelicans News / Yardbarker / December 9

Derik Queen doing his best to justify much-maligned Pelicans trade

The New Orleans Pelicans fell to 3-22, but rookie Derik Queen is giving them hope for the future.

Dylan Harper's late jumper lifts Spurs past Derik Queen, Pelicans

The 25 most unlikely NBA Finals heroes

New Orleans Pelicans News / Last Word On Sports / December 7

Pelicans Reversing Course, Considering Trading Much-Desired Two-Way Forward?

After what appears to be a failed attempt to retool its roster to make a run at the Western Conference Play-In Tournament, are the New Orleans Pelicans ready to embrace a complete rebuild?