New Orleans Pelicans: News, Scores, Stats, Headlines, Injury Updates & More

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Rotoworld Player News

Bennedict Mathurin

NOP Guard-Forward #9

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ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that Bennedict Mathurin has signed a two-year, $16.6 million deal to join the Pelicans.

According to Shams, the Pels asked the Clippers to withdraw their qualifying offer on the restricted free agent so that they could get the deal done. Mathurin’s deal includes a player option that will give him the chance to hit the market as an unrestricted free agent next summer. He should play a significant role for New Orleans, though the competition for minutes will be fiercer than it was in LA.
Bennedict Mathurin

LAC Guard-Forward #9

NBA insider Jake Fischer reports that the Pelicans remain the one “aggressive suitor” for restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin.

Like Detroit’s Jalen Duren, Mathurin’s status as a restricted free agent has made the task of landing a contract a challenging one. Few teams have the cap space to make the former lottery pick an attractive offer, and the Clippers also have to factor in the Kawhi Leonard trade, which the Raptors paused while the NBA investigates his contract. According to Fischer, the Pelicans remain interested in adding Mathurin via sign-and-trade. However, with more players becoming trade-eligible in September, that may have to wait. Another option for Mathurin is to accept the Clippers’ qualifying offer, which would make him an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Caleb Houstan

NOP Guard #33

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reports that the Pelicans signed Caleb Houstan to a one-year contract.

Houstan spent his first three seasons with the Magic before joining the Hawks on a two-way deal in October. Atlanta would convert him to a standard contract before waiving Houstan in early April. He appeared in 18 NBA games for the Hawks, averaging 2.3 points per game. Houstan will compete for the Pelicans’ final standard roster spot, as his contract is not guaranteed. Kobe Bufkin and Christian Koloko will be in the Pelicans’ camp on similar deals.
Kobe Bufkin

NOP Guard #18

According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Pelicans signed Kobe Bufkin to a one-year contract.

After an impressive showing for the Pelicans during the Summer League in Las Vegas, Bufkin has been rewarded with a one-year contract. The 15th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Bufkin has appeared in just 43 NBA games over three seasons. He appeared in 16 games for the Lakers in 2025-26, averaging 2.9 points and 0.8 rebounds in 7.4 minutes per game. With Jeremiah Fears and Dejounte Murray on the roster, Bufkin is unlikely to offer much fantasy value next season.
Jaron Pierre Jr.

NOP Guard-Forward

NBA insider Marc Stein reports that the Pelicans signed Jaron Pierre to a two-way contract.

Selected by the Pelicans with the 58th overall pick in last month’s draft, Pierre averaged 10.0 points per game in three appearances in Las Vegas. While he didn’t shoot the ball well, making just 27 percent from the field, the rookie wing is coming off a senior season at SMU in which he averaged 17.6 points per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field. New Orleans now has one available two-way slot, with Hunter Dickinson already under contract.
Kobe Bufkin

NOP Guard #18

Kobe Bufkin amassed 19 points (7-of-15 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), six rebounds, five assists, four steals, one block and one three-pointer in Saturday’s win over the Hornets.

Bufkins wasn’t as prolific offensively as he was on Thursday, when he put up 30 points in a loss to the Timberwolves. A 1-of-7 day from beyond the arc had a lot to do with that, but Bufkin deserves credit for filling the stat line. Playmaking and defense will need to be his calling cards if he’s to lock down a spot in the NBA, and he was solid in both areas against the Hornets.
Hunter Dickinson

NOP Center #4

Hunter Dickinson accounted for 21 points (9-of-18 FGs), three rebounds, three assists and three three-pointers in Saturday’s win over the Hornets.

Back with the Pelicans on a two-way contract, Dickinson had a good afternoon offensively on Saturday. He scored on all three levels, shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc and 50 percent from the field overall. Of course, the Pelicans will want to see a bit more from him defensively and on the glass, but Saturday’s offensive effort was a step in the right direction. Given New Orleans’ frontcourt options, cracking the rotation next season will be a challenge for Dickinson.
Micah Peavy

NOP Guard-Forward #14

Micah Peavy contributed 16 points (6-of-11 FGs), three rebounds, five assists, two steals and two three-pointers on Thursday against the Timberwolves.

The lone pick from the Pelicans 2025 class that suited up for summer league, Peavy was one of the best players on the floor for New Orleans in this game. Peavy was an effective defender as a rookie, so seeing him produce on offense is encouraging, even if he has a long way to go to crack the Pelicans’ rotation this season.
Jaron Pierre Jr.

NOP Guard-Forward

Jaron Pierre Jr. finished with two points (1-of-5 FGs), one assist and one steal against the Timberwolves on Thursday.

Pierre only played 12 minutes off the bench, and he didn’t produce much. He should see his role increase as summer league continues as the Pelicans look to evaluate the 58th pick from last month.
Kobe Bufkin

NOP Guard #18

Kobe Bufkin led the Pelicans with 30 points (8-of-16 FGs, 6-of-9 FTs), six rebounds, two assists, one block and five three-pointers in a 105-92 loss to the Timberwolves on Thursday.

Bufkin spent his first two seasons with the Hawks but was traded to the Nets ahead of last season. They waived him right before the season began, and he didn’t end up appearing in an NBA game until January, and he ended up signing with the Lakers for the rest of the season. Now, he’s trying to earn a new contract, and this performance should help make his case. He was quite the path to climb to get to the point where he is producing in NBA games, but he should be on pace to at least get a deal before the summer ends.