Previewing The 2024-25 New Orleans Pelicans

September 9th, 2024

by Alan Lu

The New Orleans Pelicans won 49 regular season games, but they still ended up having to go to the play-in tournament, because the Western Conference was very competitive last season.  They ended up winning in two tries, so they slotted in as an eighth seed.  They had a fairly successful season that saw them earn another playoff berth, and Zion Williamson was able to stay healthy for most of the season.  However, he got hurt in one of the play-in tournament games, and he couldn’t play in the playoffs, as he blew out a hamstring.  They were unable to compete against first seeded Oklahoma City, and the Pelicans lost in four straight games and got swept in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.  The Pelicans had a decent season overall, but they will need to find a way to both get to the playoffs, and see if they can make a deeper run if they can get there.

Zion and Brandon Ingram have teamed up to be a formidable duo when they’re healthy, but injuries derailed the Pelicans’ plans last season.
(Photo: Sean Gardner/Getty Images, via SB Nation’s Duke Basketball Report)

Star Players:

F Zion Williamson, F Brandon Ingram, G Dejounte Murray, G CJ McCollum, and F Herbert Jones

Zion Williamson is a tremendously athletic, All-Star forward that has been very productive when he’s healthy, but he’s also an oft-injured forward that has missed considerable time over the years. Brandon Ingram is a very skilled scorer that can create matchup problems that would swing in favor of his team, and together, Williamson and Ingram have been a solid duo for the Pelicans.

The Pelicans recently acquired Murray in a trade, and he is a solid scoring guard that can do a little bit of everything on the floor. His defensive reputation may have taken a bit of a hit during his time in Atlanta, but Murray is a skilled all-around guard that has what it takes to be a superstar in this league.

Dejounte Murray was the biggest acquisition that the Pelicans made this year, and he’s hoping to help them get back to the playoffs in the very competitive Western Conference in 2025. (Photo: Sophia Germer/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)

Additions:

G Dejounte Murray, C Daniel Theis, C Karlo Matkovic, C Yves Missi, and G Antonio Reeves

The Pelicans added some significant firepower by landing Dejounte Murray in a trade, as well as a slew of competent big men that will compete for minutes and a spot in the rotation this year. They also were able to get a sharpshooting combo guard in Antonio Reeves, who will be looking to get some minutes this season.

Subtractions:

C Jonas Valančiūnas, G-F Dyson Daniels, F Larry Nance Jr., G-F Naji Marshall, C Cody Zeller, and F E.J. Liddell

The Pelicans lost a slew of solid role players that helped boost their depth last season, and they’ll miss the depth they had, but the Pelicans are still a talented team that should be very competitive this season.

Rookies:

C Yves Missi, C Karlo Matkovic, and G Antonio Reeves

The Pelicans may have a bit of a logjam in terms of players that will compete to make the team’s rotation, and it’s not expected that either of their rookies will get much playing time this season. That said, Missi and Matkovic have the skills to be capable backup centers, as Missi is an athletic, shot-blocking center, and Matkovic is an energetic, rebounding big man that can pass the basketball. Also, Reeves could step up if there are minutes available, as his sharpshooting and scoring prowess could come in handy off the bench this year.

Expected Rotation:

Herbert Jones is a very athletic, energetic swingman whose tremendous defensive skills will help the Pelicans significantly for the upcoming NBA season. (Photo: Jim Dedmon/USA Today Sports, via Roll Tide Wire – USA Today)

They added Dejounte Murray to their team, which should give them more offensive firepower, and they could really surprise people if Zion can stay healthy. CJ McCollum has excelled as a sharpshooting, scoring combo guard in this league for many years, and Herbert Jones is a defensive ace, and he is a very athletic, energetic forward that is a star on the defensive side of the ball. The Pelicans have a talented group of starters that could potentially beat teams with a lot of firepower, but they haven’t been able to stay on the court or play together due to injuries. They’ll need to stay healthy, but if they can, they could surprise people and be a good team in the West.

Projected Starting Lineup:

F Zion Williamson

F Brandon Ingram

F Herbert Jones

G CJ McCollum

G Dejounte Murray

Key Bench Players:

Trey Murphy III is a solid role player that will play a pivotal role for the Pelicans this year.
(Photo: Andrew Wevers/USA Today Sports, via SBNation.com)

Trey Murphy and Jose Alvarado are going to be two of the best bench players on this Pelicans’ team, and Jordan Hawkins is a sharpshooter that can spread the floor for them. However, rebounding could be an issue for them, as the Pelicans could be very undersized and lacking height in the paint, which could allow an opening for Matkovic or Missi to get some minutes this season.

F Trey Murphy III

G Jose Alvarado

G Jordan Hawkins

G Javonte Green

C Daniel Theis

The Rest of the Roster:

C Yves Missi

F Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

C Karlo Matkovic

G Antonio Reeves

F Jamal Cain (Two-Way)

C Trey Jemison (Two-Way)

F Malcolm Hill (Two-Way)

Others in Camp:

G-F Matt Ryan (Exhibit 10)

Team Options at the End of the 2025 Season:

Here I will project the likelihood of the New Orleans Pelicans to pick up and accept or decline the team options for various players at the end of the 2025 season.

Jordan Hawkins – Team Option Will Likely Be Accepted (100% Certainty)

Head Coach:

Willie Green was able to get his team to the playoffs in 2024, but as Zion Williamson was unable to play against Oklahoma City in the postseason, the Pelicans ended up getting swept in their first round series.
(Photo: Rick Bowmer/The Associated Press, via Orange County Register)

Willie Green
2022-23 (NOP): 49-33, 0-4 in the playoffs
Coaching Career: 127-119, 2-8 in the NBA Playoffs

Willie Green has done a fairly solid job as a head coach in this league, and he’s consistently helped the Pelicans be competitive in the West. His teams haven’t quite been able to get deep in the playoffs, but he’s helped his team remain competitive on a yearly basis.

NBA Head Coach Rank: 19

Outlook:

The New Orleans Pelicans have a high ceiling for this season, but their team will have to avoid injuries to allow them to make the playoffs in 2024.
(Photo: Cooper Neill/NBAE via Getty Images, via Andscape)

The Pelicans are a talented team that has struggled to stay healthy, and they’ve decided to add firepower, but they may enter the season undersized and may struggle to defend in the paint this season. They have the talent to make the playoffs, but they are in a very competitive Western Conference, so it’s uncertain if they’ll be able to get there in 2025.

Projected 2024-25 Finish:
Expected Win-Loss Record: 42-40
Projected Regular Season Finish: 9th in the Western Conference
Expected Playoff Finish: Projected to lose in the play-in tournament and miss the playoffs
Preseason NBA Power Ranking: 17

I went to Basketball-Reference and SalarySwish to look up some information for this write-up. It will be an exciting basketball season this year, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the season will unfold. Anyways, that is my write-up on my preview of the 2024-25 New Orleans Pelicans. Thanks for reading.