The New Orleans Pelicans have had a busy offseason. They traded for Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey, signed Kevon Looney as a free agent, and traded to get Derik Queen in the draft. Sadly, he got injured and might miss the start of the new season. Now, in a latest move to add depth, the Pelicans have signed free agent Jalen McDaniels, who last played with the Wizards on a 10-day contract. However, he has been keeping his career alive with good performances in the G-League.
New Orleans Pelicans Add Depth With G-League Standout
The Pelicans will be under pressure to win next season because they traded the rights to their 2026 pick to the Atlanta Hawks. With a new front office, the Pelicans have done a lot to right the ship. But will it be enough?
With the addition of McDaniels, they have more than 15 players on their roster. That means they will have to waive someone before opening night. Several of them are forwards, including Looney, Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson, Bey, and Herb Jones. McDaniels might be just for an insurance policy, if any of the regular rotation players miss time due to injuries. Last season, the Pelicans were hit by an awful injury bug and finished with one of the worst records in the league.
Free agent forward Jalen McDaniels has agreed to a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, sources tell ESPN. McDaniels has averaged 6.7 points and 3.3 rebounds over six NBA seasons.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 18, 2025
During his six-year career in the NBA, Jalen has averaged 6.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in little more than 18 minutes of action per game. He is not a great outside shooter, averaging only 32.2% efficiency on 2.1 attempts per game. We have to note, he was much better in the G-League. Last season, he averaged 13.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He shot an efficient 47.4% from the floor and 37.8% from behind the arc.
What is New Orleans Doing?
The Pelicans have made the playoffs only twice since drafting Zion. Both times, they lost in the first round. The challenge for the Pelicans is that right now, they do not seem to have an identity. They are paying salaries like they are a playoff team, yet they were one of the worst teams in the league last season.
They will have two lottery picks on their roster next season: Jeremiah Fears, drafted 7th overall, and Queen, drafted 13th overall. They traded swap rights to the Atlanta Hawks for their 2026 first-round pick, making things even more challenging. They need to win; otherwise, they risk losing a high lottery pick. In the age of the first and second apron, losing young talent on rookie deals is a blow to organizations, and they might struggle to survive.
Looking at their payroll, they will have a high bill for the 2026-27 season as well. They have four players earning more than $25 million per year. Yes, Zion’ contract is partially guaranteed and has plenty of clauses that might make him earn less. But they also have plenty of young players who need time to develop. Last season’s pick, Yves Missi, was a great pickup. Will they strike gold this season as well with Fears and Queen?
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