The New Orleans Pelicans are a chaotic mess. Honestly, that's the only way to describe a team that entered the 2025-26 season with championship aspirations and somehow found themselves staring at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. If you've been checking the New Orleans Pelicans starting roster lately, you know it's a revolving door of G League call-ups, rookies with sky-high potential, and a training room that probably needs its own zip code.
Injuries aren't just an excuse in New Orleans; they're the entire narrative. Dejounte Murray? Haven't seen him. He’s been out since last year with a ruptured Achilles and honestly, the trade rumors are already swirling before he’s even suited up. Herb Jones? Ankle issues. Jose Alvarado? Oblique strain. It’s a literal hospital ward.
But here’s the thing: most people looking at the roster see a "lost season." They see the 10-34 record and assume it’s time to tank. What they’re missing is the weird, experimental basketball being played by the kids who are actually on the floor.
The Current Starting Five: Who’s Actually Playing?
Right now, interim head coach James Borrego—who took over after Willie Green was fired in November—is basically playing "rookie roulette." The lineup you see today is likely not the one you'll see next week.
As of mid-January 2026, the primary unit looks something like this:
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- Jeremiah Fears (PG)
- Trey Murphy III (SG/SF)
- Saddiq Bey (SF/PF)
- Zion Williamson (PF)
- Derik Queen (C)
It's a bizarre group. You've got Zion, who is still a locomotive when he's healthy, paired with two rookies in Fears and Queen. Fears has been a revelation. Most 19-year-olds look lost in the NBA, but he’s playing with a level of confidence that has essentially made Dejounte Murray expendable.
Then there’s Derik Queen. The Pelicans traded an unprotected 2026 first-rounder to get him, and while the record is ugly, Queen is putting up double-doubles like it’s a hobby. He’s the modern big man they’ve been craving—someone who can pass out of the post and actually protect the rim, even if his defensive footwork is still a work in progress.
Why the Dejounte Murray Situation Changes Everything
Everyone thought adding Murray would fix the Pelicans' backcourt issues. It hasn't. It hasn't even started. Because he hasn't played.
Reports from NBA insiders like Jake Fischer suggest the Pelicans might move Murray before he even plays a meaningful minute with Zion. Why? Because the backcourt is crowded. Between Fears’ emergence and the fact that they traded for Jordan Poole (who has been a high-volume, low-efficiency rollercoaster), the math just doesn't add up anymore.
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Basically, the Pelicans are paying a combined $68 million next season for Murray and Poole, and they haven't shared the floor once. It’s a salary cap nightmare that Joe Dumars, the new GM, has to navigate while the fans are screaming for more minutes for Jordan Hawkins.
The Zion Factor
Zion Williamson remains the sun that the entire Pelicans galaxy revolves around. When he's on, he’s unstoppable. He’s averaging 27 points and nearly 10 boards lately, but he’s doing it in a vacuum. The spacing is often terrible because they don't have enough consistent shooters surrounding him, especially with Trey Murphy III battling back issues that have limited his explosiveness.
The Bench Mob and the Rotation Shuffle
If you’re watching a Pelicans game in 2026, you’re seeing a lot of Yves Missi and Karlo Matković. Missi is a pogo stick. He’s raw, sure, but his energy is often the only thing keeping the Smoothie King Center from falling asleep during 20-point blowout losses.
The veterans on the roster, like Kevon Looney and DeAndre Jordan, are mostly there for vibes and "culture" at this point. Looney started early in the season under Willie Green, which actually led to some of the fan frustration that got Green fired. Fans wanted the youth movement; Borrego is finally giving it to them.
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What to Watch for in the Coming Weeks
The trade deadline is the looming shadow over this roster. With the team sitting 24 games under .500, nobody—except maybe Zion and the rookies—is safe.
- The Murray Trade: Keep an eye on the Knicks or Heat. Both teams need a defensive guard, and if Murray proves his Achilles is healthy in practice, he’s gone.
- Herb Jones’ Return: The defense is dead last in the league. They need "The First Team" back on the floor just to stop the bleeding.
- Jeremiah Fears' Usage: If he keeps averaging 7 assists a game, he’s the locked-in starter for the next five years.
The Pelicans aren't a playoff team right now. They’re a laboratory. They are testing to see which pieces fit around Zion before they have to pay the piper in the 2026 draft—a draft where they don't even own their own pick (thanks, Atlanta).
To stay ahead of the curve on this roster, focus less on the win-loss column and more on the chemistry between Fears and Queen. That’s the real future of New Orleans basketball. Check the injury report two hours before tip-off every night, because with this squad, "Game Time Decision" is the only thing you can count on.