By Gee Bino | The Who Dat Daily
The Pelicans roster has enough individual talent to improve, but it does not yet look complete. New Orleans finished 26–56 and missed the Western Conference Play-In Tournament by 11 games. That record exposed poor chemistry, weak interior defense, and major depth problems. Yet new coach Jamahl Mosley could still make this unusual roster work.
The New Orleans Pelicans are betting on development instead of major roster changes. Executive Joe Dumars has placed his faith in Mosley, a healthier core, and a new coaching staff.
It is a dangerous gamble in a loaded Western Conference. It is not, however, a hopeless one.
The Pelicans Roster Has Talent, but Not Balance
The central problem is not a complete lack of talent. The problem is how the pieces fit together.
Zion Williamson remains one of basketball’s most powerful offensive forces. Few defenders can keep him away from the rim when he is healthy and fully engaged.
Trey Murphy III led the team with 21.5 points per game. He has developed beyond being a stationary three-point shooter. Murphy can attack closeouts, finish in transition, and create shots off the dribble.
Herb Jones is one of the NBA’s most flexible perimeter defenders. Dejounte Murray is a proven playmaker. Jordan Poole can create his own shot and score in bunches.
That sounds like a competitive foundation. However, talent alone does not create a functional lineup.
The Pelicans roster needs rebounding, rim protection, defensive communication, and reliable half-court organization. Those areas contributed to the team’s 26–56 finish. The NBA’s season review confirmed that New Orleans finished 11 games behind the final Play-In position.
Mosley must turn several good players into one connected team.
Pelicans Roster Strengths and Concerns
| Area | Current outlook | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Star power | Williamson and Murphy provide a strong foundation | High |
| Perimeter defense | Jones, Murphy, and Murray offer length | High |
| Shot creation | Poole, Murray, and Williamson can create offense | High |
| Backcourt chemistry | Roles remain unclear between Poole and Murray | Low |
| Rim protection | No proven full-time defensive anchor | Low |
| Center depth | Yves Missi and DeAndre Jordan carry major responsibility | Low |
| Health | The team’s ceiling still depends heavily on availability | Low |
| Coaching | Mosley brings structure and defensive credibility | High |
This is the conflict at the center of the season. The Pelicans roster has several clear strengths. Its weaknesses, though, affect the most important areas of winning basketball.
Center Remains the Pelicans Roster’s Biggest Flaw
The frontcourt is the strongest reason to remain skeptical.
After Kevon Looney departed, the Pelicans did not add an established starting center. They are now depending heavily on Yves Missi and veteran DeAndre Jordan.
Missi has speed, energy, and real developmental potential. He can run the floor, finish lobs, and challenge shots. However, he is still learning the details of NBA defense.
Young centers must recognize actions before they happen. They must defend pick-and-rolls, protect the rim, rebound, and communicate on every possession. That is a heavy assignment for a developing player.
Jordan offers strength, experience, and leadership. He can still help in selected matchups. At this stage of his career, though, the Pelicans should not expect him to carry a large defensive workload across 82 games.
That leaves Mosley without the type of interior anchor he previously used with the Orlando Magic.
His 2023–24 Magic defense rose from 18th to third in defensive rating. That group used great size across the lineup. The NBA’s review of Mosley’s defense noted that Orlando often used four starters who stood 6-foot-10 or taller.
The Pelicans roster cannot copy that formula. Mosley must build a different one.
How Mosley Can Hide the Pelicans Roster’s Weaknesses
Mosley’s best solution may be speed, pressure, and versatility.
Instead of forcing Missi or Jordan to solve every defensive problem, the Pelicans can prevent opponents from reaching the paint cleanly. That requires pressure at the point of attack.
A perimeter group featuring Murray, Jones, and Murphy has the length to disrupt passing lanes. Those players can switch assignments, fight through screens, and force opposing guards away from their preferred spots.
The idea is simple: protect the center before the center must protect the rim.
Mosley built his reputation around effort, communication, and defensive accountability. His Orlando Magic defense ranked second in the NBA in 2024–25 with a 109.1 defensive rating. NBA.com documented that defensive success.
He cannot give New Orleans more size. He can demand sharper rotations, stronger closeouts, and better effort.
Point Zion Can Rebuild the Offense
The most important offensive change should involve Zion Williamson.
Previous systems often placed Williamson deep in the paint. That allowed defenses to crowd him with multiple bodies. It also reduced the space available to cutters and drivers.
Mosley should bring back Point Zion.
Williamson can initiate possessions from the perimeter. He can attack a mismatch, force help, and create open shots for teammates. Few players generate more defensive attention when moving downhill.
This approach would also help Murray and Poole.
Both guards are comfortable with the ball. Too many possessions, however, can become stagnant when one player dribbles while everyone else watches. Allowing Williamson to initiate more offense would let Murray and Poole work as cutters, secondary creators, and spot-up threats.
It would also make the Pelicans roster harder to predict.
When Williamson serves as the primary playmaker, the offense can flow into dribble handoffs, backdoor cuts, and quick attacks. That is better than waiting for a guard to create a difficult shot late in the clock.
Trey Murphy Must Become a Complete Star
Trey Murphy III is no longer just an important young player. He is becoming central to everything the Pelicans want to build.
Murphy’s shooting creates space for Williamson. His athleticism adds speed in transition. His improved ball handling gives the offense another creator.
Mosley must also demand more from him on defense.
Murphy has the length to disrupt passing lanes and challenge shots from behind. He can defend several positions. If he becomes a more consistent two-way force, Mosley can use him as the bridge between small and traditional lineups.
Trade speculation will continue because Murphy has major value. Yet moving him would create another hole for a team already short on dependable two-way players.
The Pelicans roster works better with Murphy as a core piece, not as an outgoing asset.
Film Room: The Small Lineup That Could Change Everything
Mosley’s boldest move could be using Williamson at center in short bursts.
A lineup with Murray, Poole, Jones, Murphy, and Williamson would lack traditional size. It would also create serious matchup problems.
Williamson could attack slower centers. Murphy and Poole would stretch the floor. Murray could create from the middle, while Jones handles the toughest defensive assignment.
That group could switch many actions and run after missed shots. It could also force traditional centers to defend far from the basket.
The weakness would be defensive rebounding. Large frontcourts could punish the Pelicans with second-chance points. Mosley would need all five players to rebound before starting the break.
This should not become the full-time starting lineup. It could become a powerful closing unit when the matchup allows it.
God Shammgod Could Unlock the Backcourt
Assistant coach God Shammgod adds another important element.
Shammgod is widely respected for player development and ball-handling instruction. His work with Murray and Poole should extend beyond flashy moves.
The real goal should be quicker decisions.
Both guards must learn when to attack, when to move the ball, and when to relocate after giving it up. The offense cannot reach its ceiling if every possession becomes a turn-taking exercise.
Shammgod can help refine their footwork and control. Mosley must establish their roles.
Murray should organize the offense and defend the point of attack. Poole should provide aggressive scoring and movement. Both can create, but they must stop competing for the same space.
Why Jamahl Mosley Changes the Equation
Mosley cannot repair every flaw through coaching. Still, he has already completed a similar development project.
He took over an inexperienced Orlando Magic team and helped turn it into a playoff regular. Mosley finished his five seasons in Orlando with a 189–221 record and three consecutive playoff appearances, according to the NBA’s coaching tracker.
Mosley has also acknowledged that rising expectations demand harder conversations. During his introduction in Metairie, he stressed that communication and accountability must increase as a team improves. NBA.com covered Mosley’s introductory remarks.
That self-awareness matters.
The Pelicans do not need another coach who simply installs a playbook. They need someone who can confront poor habits, define roles, and keep stars accountable.
Mosley’s greatest contribution may be creating clarity.
Big Q’s Take
The Pelicans roster is not complete enough to call this team a contender. The center rotation is too uncertain. The backcourt has not proven it can function together. Health remains a major concern.
That does not mean the season is already lost.
There is enough talent for the Pelicans to improve quickly. Williamson can control games. Murphy is becoming a star. Jones can anchor the perimeter defense. Murray and Poole provide real playmaking and scoring.
The challenge is cohesion.
Mosley must create a system in which each player’s role supports the next. He cannot ask New Orleans to become another version of Orlando. He must design a new identity around speed, switching, Point Zion, and aggressive wing defense.
The front office has placed an enormous burden on its new coach. It is asking him to solve roster problems without many new pieces.
That is risky. Yet Mosley may be the right coach to attempt it.
Why This Pelicans Roster Could Still Work
The final verdict is more hopeful than the record suggests.
The Pelicans roster could work if four things happen:
- Williamson stays healthy and embraces a playmaking role.
- Murphy becomes a consistent two-way star.
- Murray and Poole accept clearly defined responsibilities.
- Missi develops fast enough to stabilize the center position.
Mosley can also use smaller lineups to turn the lack of size into a speed advantage. Strong perimeter pressure could reduce the burden on the centers. Better spacing could unlock Williamson and create easier shots.
The margin for error will be thin. A major injury or slow start could force Joe Dumars to reconsider his patient approach.
Still, this plan can work.
It will not work because the Pelicans secretly have a perfect roster. It could work because Mosley has the defensive mind, development skills, and accountability needed to make imperfect pieces fit.
Prediction: The Pelicans can compete for a Play-In position if their core remains healthy. A direct playoff berth would require a major internal leap or another frontcourt addition.
Confidence: 6 out of 10.
Gee Bino is a senior writer and columnist for The Who Dat Daily, covering the New Orleans Saints, Pelicans, LSU athletics, and the Gulf South sports landscape. He specializes in roster construction, player development, salary cap strategy, and breaking news coverage. Follow The Who Dat Daily for daily news, analysis, and exclusive team coverage.
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