Though the New Orleans Pelicans aren’t being picked to dominate the NBA this season, that doesn’t mean they aren’t going to have a competitive roster with a ton of guys fighting for playing time.

Most players not in the starting lineup will need to work hard for their minutes, but these four players in particular will need to make the most of their time on the court:

SF Saddiq Bey

Bey was the No. 19 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, but expectations quickly rose for him as he had a stellar rookie season that saw him land All-Rookie honors. He started every game in his second year, but didn’t have as big a role after being traded to the Atlanta Hawks. He signed a three-year deal with the Washington Wizards last offseason, but missed all of the year recovering from a torn ACL.

He’ll be a bruising three or small-ball four for the Pelicans. The last time he played, he had the highest offensive rating on the Hawks. That put him ahead of players like Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. He doesn’t have the best defensive metrics, but adding to the offense has been a clear goal of this offense and Bey will help that.

SG Jordan Hawkins

It’s year three of Hawkins in New Orleans and the team will be hoping for a bigger jump in production. He scored more last year, but that was mostly due to his playing more. His efficiency dropped in virtually every aspect. 

The pressure is on for him to produce this year, though, or his time with the Pelicans likely won’t extend past his rookie deal. Jeremiah Fears was the No. 7 overall pick and will be pushing for guard minutes. Hawkins is a better three-point shooter than Fears, at least right now, but making two a game isn’t going to cut it forever. If Hawkins is already near his ceiling at 23 years old, New Orleans will probably move on soon.

PF Zion Williamson

After another year of playing just 30 games last season, Williamson is once again in the sights of many who question his ability to be the center piece of a team. The 25-year-old has three more years on his contract, so it’s not like he’s going to be cut or anything if he struggles with health again.

At some point, though, he needs to stay healthy so he can prove his worth. If he can’t put together a healthy season or two, teams will be wary of giving him another max deal.

C Derik Queen

Whether or not it's actually fair to Queen, many people will tie his career to the fact that the Pelicans traded next year's first round pick to him. Expectations will be higher than that of  a normal No. 13 overall selection. 

The former Maryland Terrapin has an interesting offensive profile that could lead to him contributing early, but that will be up to Willie Green to get the most out of him. He can create his own shot from mid-range to the rim and has some playmaking that is waiting to be unlocked.