By Gee Bino | The Who Dat Daily
The New Orleans Pelicans have remained relatively quiet during free agency, leaving many fans wondering:
How can the Pelicans still add players despite being over the salary cap?
The answer lies in the NBA’s complicated salary cap system.
Although New Orleans currently projects to be over the salary cap, the franchise still has multiple tools available to improve the roster before training camp.
Here’s a breakdown of the Pelicans’ financial situation and how the team can continue adding talent.
The Pelicans Are Over The Salary Cap
According to current projections, the Pelicans have approximately $227.9 million allocated in team salary, placing them above the NBA salary cap.
New Orleans currently sits roughly $63 million over the cap, meaning the organization cannot simply sign free agents using traditional cap space.
However, being over the cap does not prevent teams from making moves.
In fact, most NBA contenders operate over the salary cap.
What Are The NBA Aprons?
The NBA introduced two spending thresholds known as the First Apron and Second Apron as part of the league’s new collective bargaining agreement.
The Pelicans currently project to have approximately:
$14.3 million below the First Apron
$26.9 million below the Second Apron
Remaining below these aprons is extremely important.
Crossing either threshold triggers significant roster-building restrictions, including limitations on trades, free-agent signings, and future flexibility.
By staying below both aprons, the Pelicans maintain valuable roster-building options.
How Can The Pelicans Still Sign Players?
Even though New Orleans is over the salary cap, the team still possesses several exceptions that allow them to sign players.
Minimum Salary Exception
The most common path involves veteran minimum contracts.
This exception allows teams to sign players to minimum deals regardless of salary cap status.
Veteran center DeAndre Jordan is an example of the type of player who could be signed using this mechanism.
Mid-Level Exception (MLE)
The Pelicans may also have access to a version of the Mid-Level Exception, one of the NBA’s most valuable roster-building tools.
The MLE allows teams operating above the salary cap to sign outside free agents without using cap space.
Depending on the team’s final payroll, the Pelicans could utilize either a full or taxpayer version of the exception.
Trade Exceptions
Another avenue involves trades.
The Pelicans can continue reshaping the roster by:
Trading existing contracts.
Matching salaries in trades.
Utilizing trade exceptions generated from previous transactions.
Historically, New Orleans has been active on the trade market, making this a realistic possibility.
Internal Development May Be The Biggest Addition
The new leadership group led by Joe Dumars, Troy Weaver, and Jamahl Mosley appears to believe the roster already possesses significant untapped potential.
Rather than aggressively pursuing outside free agents, the organization seems focused on developing:
Derik Queen
Yves Missi
Jordan Hawkins
Karlo Matkovic
Trey Murphy III
The Pelicans are essentially betting that improved coaching, player development, and accountability can elevate the current roster.
Why The Pelicans Have Remained Patient
Many fans expected New Orleans to aggressively attack free agency.
Instead, the franchise has taken a measured approach.
The reasoning is simple:
Maintaining financial flexibility today could create opportunities tomorrow.
As teams across the league continue adjusting their rosters, additional players will become available through trades, buyouts, and training camp cuts.
By remaining patient, the Pelicans preserve the flexibility necessary to strike when the right opportunity presents itself.
Final Thoughts
While the Pelicans may be over the salary cap, they are far from finished building their roster.
The team still possesses multiple avenues to improve before opening night.
Whether through minimum contracts, exceptions, trades, or internal development, New Orleans still has plenty of options available.
The bigger question may not be whether the Pelicans can add players.
It’s whether they believe they need to.
About The Author
Gee Bino
Senior Writer | The Who Dat Daily
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, salary cap strategy, player development, and breaking news coverage.