How the New Orleans Pelicans roster will look heading into training camp after the Bennedict Mathurin signing.
The New Orleans Pelicans were finally able to pull off a long-awaited signing on Wednesday, bringing in former Los Angeles Clippers guard Bennedict Mathurin on a two-year deal. It is by far the biggest move they have made this offseason.
It also adds some tension to their current roster, as something has to budge to make Mathurin fit. In order to stay below the luxury tax and open up a roster spot, the Pelicans are going to need to either waive or trade someone on the team.
Here is where the roster currently stands:
Guards (5)
PG Jeremiah Fears
PG Dejounte Murray
Combo Guard Jordan Poole
SG Jordan Hawkins
SG Jaron Pierre Jr. - Two-Way Contract
G Kobe Bufkin - Training Camp
New Orleans will probably continue trying to work to shift this room around a little bit, as they have been known to be shopping Hawkins for a while now. Poole is also set to make $34 million, so they could try to do something with that.
In terms of who will actually be playing, though, the guards are very exciting. Murray was very promising when he came back from his injury and Fears made great strides as a rookie. If this team does actually fight back to the postseason, they'll need these two to stand out.
Wings
SF/SG Trey Murphy III
SG/SF Herbert Jones Jr.
SG Bennedict Mathurin
F Saddiq Bey
SG/SF Micah Peavy
SG/SF Bryce McGowens
SG/SF Caleb Houstan - Training Camp
This is inarguably the strength of the team, as it was before they signed Mathurin. Now, they add another player who is going to be a key focus of their offense to the wing. The former Clippers star posted 17.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per night with 43.0/31.5/86.9 shooting splits.
The Pelicans still don't have a ton of shooting here, but there is a nice mix of offensive and defensive talent. Adding Mathurin doesn't make them a Finals contender, but it does make their team better.
Bigs
PF Zion Williamson
C Yves Missi
C/F Derik Queen
C Karlo Matkovic
C DeAndre Jordan
F Trendon Watford
F Malik Dia - Two-Way Contract
C Christian Koloko - Training Camp
Watford is one of the only additions they have made this offseason, and he could be waived already, given that his deal was not guaranteed. New Orleans would like to keep him, though, as he does bring some nice passing and scoring around the rim.
The Pelicans didn't attack this position group this offseason in the way that some thought they would, but Queen and Missi are young players who could improve this team simply by developing.
