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

Los Angeles Clippers v New Orleans Pelicans

Saddiq Bey, New Orleans agree to three-year, $55.5 million contract extension

Saddiq Bey was quietly impressive last season, averaging 17.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Kurt Helin,

Kurt Helin,

Elfrid Payton signs camp contract with Sacramento, has chance to make roster

Kurt Helin,

Kurt Helin,

Pelicans reportedly trading Jordan Hawkins, Micah Peavy to Grizzlies for AJ Johnson, Taj Gibson

Kurt Helin,

Kurt Helin,

NBA: Los Angeles Clippers at Sacramento Kings

Bennedict Mathurin, Pelicans reportedly agree to two-year, $16 million contract

Kurt Helin,

Kurt Helin,

NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder at Philadelphia 76ers

Trendon Watford signs one-year minimum deal to join New Orleans

Kurt Helin,

Kurt Helin,

NBA: Finals-New York Knicks at San Antonio Spurs

Fantasy takeaways from 2026-27 NBA regular-season schedule release

Raphielle Johnson,

Raphielle Johnson,

12:16

NBA Offseason: 76ers win big, Cavs not so much

Rotoworld Player News

Saddiq Bey

NOP Guard-Forward #41

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ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that the Pelicans and Saddiq Bey agreed to a three-year extension worth $55.5 million.

After missing the entire 2024-25 season recovering from a torn ACL, Bey had the most productive season of his NBA career to date. Starting 64 of the 72 games he played, the 6-foot-7 forward averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.1 three-pointers while shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 84.1 percent from the foul line. Injuries to other wings freed up additional opportunities for Bey last season, but the contract extension shows he has clearly locked down a key role.
Taj Gibson

NOP Forward #67

Pelicans waived Taj Gibson.

Acquired from the Grizzlies on Tuesday, Gibson appeared in 10 games last season after joining the team in late February. His contract for the 2026-27 season was not guaranteed, so New Orleans unsurprisingly prioritized salary cap flexibility. Once he clears waivers, the 41-year-old Gibson will be an unrestricted free agent.
Taj Gibson

NOP Forward #67

The Pelicans acquired Taj Gibson and AJ Johnson from the Grizzlies in exchange for Jordan Hawkins, Micah Peavy, a future second-round pick and a second-round pick swap.

Tuesday’s reported trade was all about the Pelicans freeing up cap space, allowing the team to make Bennedict Mathurin’s signing official. Gibson, who was not on an NBA team at the start of last season, agreed to a deal with the Grizzlies in late February and appeared in 10 games. While a positive voice within the locker room, Gibson has not been a factor in fantasy basketball for quite some time. It’s also unknown whether he’ll be on the Pelicans’ roster when the season begins.
AJ Johnson

NOP Guard #8

The Pelicans acquired AJ Johnson and Taj Gibson from the Grizzlies in exchange for Jordan Hawkins, Micah Peavy, a future second-round pick and a second-round pick swap.

Selected 23rd overall in the 2024 draft, Johnson has bounced around in his two NBA seasons. After splitting his rookie campaign between Milwaukee and Washington, he appeared in 48 games for the Wizards and Mavericks in 2025-26, averaging 3.3 points in 9.5 minutes. This is the second time this offseason that Johnson has been traded, with the Mavericks sending him to Memphis as part of a deal headlined by Santi Aldama. New Orleans likely executed Tuesday’s reported transaction to free up the space needed to make Bennedict Mathurin’s signing official. As a result, fantasy managers should not expect Johnson to become a factor next season.
Bennedict Mathurin

NOP Guard-Forward #9

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.