Few things in the NBA shift as fast as a team’s roster. For the New Orleans Pelicans, the 2025‑26 season is a story of an emerging young core, costly injuries, and tough salary‑cap decisions.

4 related posts

Points per game leader: Trey Murphy III (21.5) ·
Rebounds per game leader: Derik Queen (7.1) ·
Field goal percentage leader: Zion Williamson (60.0%)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact starting lineup varies game‑to‑game due to injuries (ESPN depth chart)
  • Zion Williamson’s long‑term availability remains uncertain (ESPN depth chart)
  • Brandon Ingram’s contract situation may shift the roster (ESPN depth chart)
3Timeline signal
  • 2025‑26 season ended with a 26‑56 record (ESPN)
  • Offseason free‑agency and trade decisions on Ingram, McCollum (ESPN)
4What’s next
  • Roster reconstruction around Murphy III, Queen, and Williamson (SalarySwish)
  • Salary‑cap constraints limit flexibility (SalarySwish)

The Pelicans enter the offseason with a handful of fixed numbers that define their situation.

Metric Value
2024‑25 Record 26‑56
Head Coach Willie Green (2‑10) / James Borrego (24‑46) (ESPN)
General Manager Joe Dumars (NBA.com)
Arena Smoothie King Center
Team Salary $221,379,539 (SalarySwish)
Cap Hit $196,214,389 (SalarySwish)
Cap Room ‑$30,742,389 (over cap) (SalarySwish)
Points Leader Trey Murphy III (21.5 PPG) (CBS Sports)
Rebounds Leader Derik Queen (7.1 RPG) (CBS Sports)
Field‑Goal % Leader Zion Williamson (60.0%) (ESPN)

The implication: the Pelicans are locked into a top‑heavy payroll while carrying a losing record, leaving little room for error in player development and health.

Who is the best player on the Pelicans right now?

The trade‑off

Zion Williamson delivers elite efficiency (60.0 FG%) but has played only 56 games in 2025‑26 (CBS Sports). Murphy III, meanwhile, logs more minutes and consistent availability. The best player depends on whether you value peak output or sustained presence.

Zion Williamson’s impact and scoring

  • 60.0% field‑goal percentage, highest on the team (ESPN)
  • Listed as power forward / center on the depth chart (ESPN depth chart)
  • Signed to a maximum contract (~$36M) (ESPN salary roster)

Trey Murphy III’s breakout season

  • Leads the team with 21.5 points per game (CBS Sports)
  • Salary $25,000,000 for 2025‑26 (ESPN salary roster)
  • Improved three‑point shooting (context from content plan)

Other key contributors (Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum)

  • Brandon Ingram – small forward, 2022 All‑Star
  • CJ McCollum – veteran point guard, high salary
  • Herbert Jones – guard/forward, 8.9 PPG in 56 games (CBS Sports)

The pattern: the Pelicans’ identity tilts toward whichever player is on the floor. With Williamson’s availability in doubt, Murphy III has become the team’s most reliable offensive engine.

Who are the starting 5 for the Pelicans?

The lineup has been fluid all season. Based on the most recent depth chart from ESPN’s depth chart, a typical starting five might be:

  • PG – Dejounte Murray (16.7 PPG in 14 games) (CBS Sports)
  • SG – Trey Murphy III (21.5 PPG)
  • SF – Herbert Jones (8.9 PPG)
  • PF – Zion Williamson (60.0 FG%)
  • C – Derik Queen (11.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG) (CBS Sports)

Injuries and load management have forced coaches Willie Green and James Borrego to experiment with different combinations. Even the depth chart on ESPN lists Williamson and Queen together in the frontcourt, but that alignment hasn’t been consistent.

The pattern: the Pelicans lack a fixed starting unit, which makes it tough to build rhythm and chemistry.

Who are the Pelicans’ highest-paid players?

The Pelicans’ payroll is top‑heavy. Five players account for the majority of the $221 million team salary (SalarySwish).

  • Zion Williamson – ~$36 M (max contract) (ESPN salary roster)
  • Brandon Ingram – ~$36 M (estimated)
  • CJ McCollum – ~$33 M (estimated)
  • Dejounte Murray – $30,801,103 (ESPN salary roster)
  • Trey Murphy III – $25,000,000 (ESPN salary roster)

The Pelicans are over the cap by nearly $31 million, according to SalarySwish. That leaves little room to add talent through free agency.

The catch: investing so much capital in players who have missed significant games creates a precarious financial situation.

Who is the Pelicans’ leading scorer?

Why this matters

Trey Murphy III’s 21.5 PPG mark is the team’s highest, but he also played 72 games while several stars sat out. His per‑game average is not just volume – it’s durability.

Trey Murphy III as current PPG leader

  • 21.5 points per game (team leader) (CBS Sports)
  • Shooting .367 from three‑point range (CBS Sports)

Historical leading scorers (e.g., Anthony Davis)

  • Franchise all‑time scoring leader: Anthony Davis
  • Current players: none near Davis’ totals

Season versus career scoring averages

  • Murphy III’s 21.5 is a career high
  • Zion Williamson career average ~25 PPG but limited games

The implication: the Pelicans’ leading scorer title has shifted from a former superstar (Davis) to a rising wing, reflecting the team’s rebuild on the fly.

What are the statistics of New Orleans Pelicans players?

Player‑level data from the 2025‑26 season, drawn from CBS Sports, show the team’s production distribution.

Player GP GS MPG PPG RPG APG
Saddiq Bey 72 64 31.2 17.7 – –
Dejounte Murray 14 14 27.8 16.7 – –
Derik Queen 81 48 25.0 11.7 7.1 –
Herbert Jones 56 56 28.4 8.9 – –
Karlo Matkovic 62 – – – – –

Note: Advanced stats like PER and Win Shares are available from CBS Sports.

The trade‑off: the team relies heavily on a few healthy scorers (Bey, Murray) while key pieces like Williamson and Jones miss time, creating a shallow rotation.

Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • 2024‑25 record: 26‑56 (ESPN)
  • Trey Murphy III leads scoring (21.5 PPG) (CBS Sports)
  • Derik Queen leads rebounding (7.1 RPG) (CBS Sports)
  • Zion Williamson 60.0 FG% (ESPN)
  • Team salary $221.4M, over cap (SalarySwish)

What’s unclear

  • Exact starting lineup week‑to‑week
  • Zion Williamson’s injury status and future availability
  • Whether Brandon Ingram or CJ McCollum will be traded
  • How the Pelicans will address the cap deficit
Additional sources

espn.com, nba.com, cbssports.com, facebook.com, fanspo.com, capsheets.com

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Frequently asked questions

How many players are on the Pelicans roster?

The official roster listed by NBA.com includes 15 active players plus two‑way contracts.

What is the average age of Pelicans players?

Based on CBS Sports data, players range from 18‑year‑old Jeremiah Fears to 38‑year‑old DeAndre Jordan (CBS Sports).

Who is the Pelicans’ head coach?

James Borrego finished the 2025‑26 season after Willie Green started 2‑10 (ESPN).

When was the Pelicans established?

The franchise began as the New Orleans Hornets in 2002 and rebranded to the Pelicans in 2013.

What is the Pelicans’ all‑time winning percentage?

Through 2024‑25, the franchise holds a winning percentage below .500.

Which Pelicans players have been All‑Stars?

Anthony Davis, Zion Williamson, and Brandon Ingram have represented the Pelicans at All‑Star Games.

What is the Pelicans’ salary cap situation?

The team exceeds the cap by $30.7M (SalarySwish), restricting free‑agent signings.

Who holds the franchise record for most points?

Anthony Davis is the all‑time leader in points, rebounds, and blocks for the Pelicans.

For fans and analysts following the Pelicans, the central question is whether the front office can balance a bloated payroll with the need for a healthier, more consistent core. If Murphy III and Queen continue to develop while Williamson stays on the floor, the team has a path to contention. The front office must invest in durability and depth, or risk being stuck in the lottery again.