By Gee Bino | The Who Dat Daily

The New Orleans Pelicans did not execute a dramatic offseason roster overhaul. Instead, executive vice president Joe Dumars made a different kind of investment.

He hired Jamahl Mosley and surrounded him with a staff built around teaching, accountability and Pelicans player development.

That decision places enormous responsibility on Mosley and assistants God Shammgod, Bret Brielmaier and Dale Osbourne. New Orleans finished last season 26–56 and 11th in the Western Conference. The Pelicans do not have enough margin for their promising young players to remain unfinished products.

Jeremiah Fears must become a more efficient floor general. Derik Queen and Yves Missi must learn how to defend together. Micah Peavy must improve as a shooter and secondary creator. Most importantly, Zion Williamson must become a dependable defender.

If Mosley’s staff succeeds in those areas, the Pelicans could make a significant jump. If it fails, another difficult season may expose the limitations of New Orleans’ quiet offseason.

Pelicans Player Development Is the Organization’s Biggest Bet

Mosley took over an Orlando team that had won only 21 games before his arrival. The Magic gradually improved, became one of the NBA’s better defensive teams and reached the playoffs in three consecutive seasons.

That track record attracted Dumars.

The Pelicans possess a young roster with several talented but incomplete players. Fears, Queen and Peavy have completed only one NBA season. Missi is entering his third year. Even established players such as Williamson, Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones remain in their mid-20s.

Dumars specifically praised Mosley’s leadership, defensive philosophy and history of developing young players. Mosley, meanwhile, described defense, physicality, work ethic and accountability as the foundation of his program. NBA.com’s coverage of Mosley’s introduction made it clear that the organization views development as an immediate priority rather than a distant rebuilding project.

That creates an interesting challenge. The Pelicans want to develop, but they also expect to compete.

God Shammgod Brings Elite Skill Development

God Shammgod is the most recognizable addition to Mosley’s staff.

The former Providence guard became famous for the crossover dribble that still carries his name. However, his coaching reputation extends far beyond one move.

Shammgod worked as a player development coach and assistant with the Dallas Mavericks from 2019 through 2025. He later joined Mosley in Orlando before following him to New Orleans. His responsibilities with the Pelicans include player development and in-game adjustments.

New Orleans also selected Shammgod to coach its 2026 Summer League team. That assignment allowed him to begin installing his teaching methods before training camp. The NBA Coaches Association documents his background with Dallas and Orlando, while the Pelicans’ Summer League coverage confirms his role as the team’s summer head coach.

His most important project could be Jeremiah Fears.

Fears already showed significant scoring potential and ended his rookie season with a franchise rookie-record 40-point performance. However, becoming a true NBA lead guard requires more than scoring.

Shammgod can help Fears improve his change of pace, protect the ball against pressure and manipulate defenders in pick-and-roll situations. Fears must learn when to attack, when to pull the ball out and when to create an easier opportunity for a teammate.

The Pelicans ranked 24th in assists last season at 25.1 per game. Better decision-making from Fears could improve the entire offense.

Shammgod should also work closely with Micah Peavy, Kobe Bufkin, Jordan Hawkins and New Orleans’ other perimeter players. Peavy already brings defensive versatility, size and transition ability. A tighter handle and more confident pull-up game could turn him into a dependable two-way rotation wing.

For this roster, Shammgod’s value will not be measured by flashy dribbling drills. It will be measured by whether the Pelicans generate better shots and commit fewer damaging turnovers.

Bret Brielmaier Must Modernize the Offense

Contrary to some early descriptions of the staff, Bret Brielmaier will coordinate the Pelicans’ offense, not the defense.

Brielmaier brings experience from several respected organizations. He began in player development and video work with the San Antonio Spurs. He later served as an assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets before becoming head coach of the Long Island Nets.

He joined Mosley’s Orlando staff in 2021. The NBA Coaches Association outlines a résumé that includes experience under Gregg Popovich, Tyronn Lue, Kenny Atkinson and Mosley.

Brielmaier inherits a New Orleans offense that averaged 115.5 points but often struggled to create organized possessions. The Pelicans ranked 24th in assists, and injuries repeatedly forced players into roles that did not fit their strengths. NBA.com’s Pelicans team page lists the club at 26–56 with a negative scoring margin.

The new offense must create more structure around Williamson’s interior dominance.

Zion commands attention whenever he attacks the paint. Therefore, Brielmaier must install spacing that punishes defenses for sending extra help. Shooters cannot stand still and watch. Cutters must move with purpose. Screeners must create clean driving lanes without bringing additional defenders into Zion’s path.

Brielmaier must also build an offense that functions when Zion sits.

Fears, Queen, Trey Murphy and Dejounte Murray all need defined creation opportunities. New Orleans cannot depend on one player to generate every quality shot. The staff must establish a system based on ball movement, quick decisions and multiple playmaking options.

Queen offers especially intriguing possibilities. He can score, pass and create from different areas of the floor. Brielmaier could use him in dribble handoffs, short-roll actions and high-post sets instead of treating him as a traditional low-block center.

Dale Osbourne Takes Control of the Defense

Dale Osbourne will coordinate the Pelicans’ defense, which may be the staff’s most important assignment.

Osbourne spent nine seasons as an assistant with the Portland Trail Blazers before joining Mosley in Orlando in 2021. He also has head-coaching experience from the NBA G League. The NBA Coaches Association details his extensive professional background.

Orlando developed a clear defensive identity under Mosley and Osbourne. The Magic played with size, physicality and discipline. New Orleans wants to establish a similar standard.

The Pelicans allowed 120 points per game last season, which ranked 24th in the league. That level of defense makes sustained winning nearly impossible.

Osbourne has several useful pieces. Herb Jones remains one of the NBA’s premier defensive wings. Peavy offers size and versatility. Missi brings length and shot-blocking ability. Dejounte Murray can create turnovers at the point of attack.

However, the staff must make those individual tools function as one connected unit.

That means improving communication, defensive rebounding, transition effort and off-ball awareness. It also means establishing clear rules for pick-and-roll coverage.

Developing Zion Williamson on Defense Is Essential

No individual assignment carries more importance than Zion Williamson’s defensive development.

Dumars openly expressed interest in seeing whether Mosley could get Zion to defend consistently. Mosley said Williamson had not yet approached the limits of his potential.

The Pelicans do not need Zion to become Herb Jones. They need him to remain engaged.

Williamson must recognize rotations earlier, communicate on switches and close defensive possessions with rebounds. He cannot lose track of cutters or remain behind the action after an offensive turnover.

His strength and quickness should allow him to become a disruptive defender. Yet those physical advantages mean little without consistent positioning and effort.

Mosley and Osbourne must hold Zion accountable without diminishing his offensive confidence. That balance could determine whether the Pelicans become a respectable defensive team.

If Zion buys into the new standard, other players will follow. If the team’s highest-profile player ignores defensive assignments, the staff’s message will quickly lose power.

Derik Queen and Yves Missi Present an Intriguing Challenge

Derik Queen and Yves Missi give the Pelicans two talented young big men with contrasting skills.

Queen brings strength, touch, rebounding and playmaking. He recorded the first 30-point triple-double by a rookie center in NBA history and should receive a larger role in his second season.

Missi provides vertical athleticism, rim protection and lob-catching ability. However, he still needs to improve his defensive positioning, screen technique and overall feel.

Mosley’s staff must determine whether the two can share the court.

That pairing could create rebounding and size advantages. It could also produce spacing problems if neither player consistently threatens defenses away from the basket.

Osbourne must teach Queen how to defend in space and help Missi become more disciplined around the rim. Meanwhile, Brielmaier must find offensive actions that use Queen’s passing without clogging Williamson’s driving lanes.

Their growth represents another major test of Pelicans player development.

Mosley Has More Development Help Behind His Lead Assistants

The staff extends beyond Shammgod, Brielmaier and Osbourne.

New Orleans’ coaching group also includes Randy Gregory, Mike Hopkins, Will Bynum and former NBA center Greg Monroe in coaching and player-development roles. The Pelicans’ official staff directory confirms the expanded group.

Gregory will share player-development responsibilities. Bynum can provide valuable guard instruction, while Monroe’s experience should help Queen, Missi and the team’s other young frontcourt players.

That depth matters during an 82-game season. One head coach and three assistants cannot provide individualized attention to an entire roster.

Mosley has assembled a staff that should allow New Orleans to divide responsibilities without delivering conflicting messages.

What Successful Pelicans Player Development Would Look Like

New Orleans does not need every young player to become a star this season.

However, the team needs visible progress in several areas:

• Fears must improve his decision-making and pick-and-roll control.
• Queen must become more dependable defensively.
• Missi must improve his positioning and physicality.
• Peavy must expand his offensive game.
• Zion must defend with consistent effort.
• The team must move the ball and communicate defensively.
• The Pelicans must reduce the gap between their best and worst performances.

If those improvements occur, New Orleans could outperform expectations without making a blockbuster trade.

If they do not, the same roster limitations will remain visible regardless of Mosley’s schemes.

Big Q’s Take: Teaching Must Become Winning

The Pelicans made a calculated decision this offseason. Instead of chasing a move simply to satisfy public pressure, Dumars invested in a coaching staff designed to improve the talent already on the roster.

That approach deserves a fair opportunity.

However, development cannot become an excuse for another losing season. Fears, Queen, Peavy and Missi already possess NBA-level talent. Williamson, Murphy, Jones and Murray provide enough veteran ability to make New Orleans competitive.

Mosley’s staff must connect those pieces.

Shammgod must sharpen the guards. Brielmaier must create a modern, organized offense. Osbourne must establish a physical defensive identity. Mosley must create accountability from the top of the roster to the bottom.

The Pelicans’ success may not depend on one trade or one star. It may depend on whether this coaching staff can turn potential into dependable production.

That makes Pelicans player development the defining storyline of the 2026–27 season.