2023-24 Kia Season Preview

Pelicans: What’s new, season prediction & 2024 free agents

Breaking down the expectations for New Orleans before the 2023-24 season tips off.

Michael C. Wright

October 9, 2023 12:39 PM

A healthy and productive Zion Williamson would alter New Orleans’ trajectory in 2023-24.

The No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft, Zion Williamson heads into the first year of a five-year extension in 2023-24. Overall, the New Orleans Pelicans stayed relatively quiet in the offseason, drafting Jordan Hawkins, signing Cody Zeller and bringing back Herb Jones on a new deal. Williamson and Brandon Ingram are legitimate franchise cornerstones, but that duo has advanced to the playoffs only once since becoming teammates in New Orleans.

Williamson has played 61 games in a season just once in his career (2020-21) and the Pelicans’ prospects in 2023-24 (and perhaps long term) hinge on his ability to stay healthy.

What’s new?

Williamson played in 29 games last season and has missed more than 60% of the team’s total games throughout his career. However, he’s taken serious steps this offseason in the weight room and is on the track to stave off future injury by improving his physical conditioning.
Trey Murphy III is expected to miss time due to a meniscus injury, which is a significant loss. The Pelicans were hoping the 2021 first-round pick could take another step in his development after posting career highs in every major statistic last season.
The team’s quiet leader, Ingram averaged a career-high 24.7 points per game in 2022-23 and is currently eligible until Oct. 23 to sign an extension. He could also garner a supermax extension during the 2024 offseason if he earns All-NBA recognition this season.

How far can the Pelicans go?

New Orleans has advanced to the playoffs only once since 2017-18, and the Pelicans boast one of the league’s most talented rosters with Ingram, Williamson and CJ McCollum in tow. That group, though, has struggled to stay healthy. The Pelicans brought aboard McCollum at the 2022 trade deadline and the guard has played a total of 10 games with Williamson and Ingram.

If the main three can stay healthy — especially Williamson — and Murphy III experiences limited setbacks in his return, the Pelicans are talented enough to win more than 40 games and advance to the postseason as one of the conference’s lower seeds.

1 player that must take a leap

Zion Williamson. It’s not even about a leap on the floor for Williamson, who has proven throughout his career to be one of the league’s most lethal forwards. The 23-year-old has played in 114 games over four seasons, and he’s acknowledged his own shortcomings in terms of preparation and physical conditioning. Williamson has spent the majority of his offseason training in New Orleans for the first time in his career, and vice president David Griffin said the forward “is embracing doing his part” to stay healthy.

In-Season Tournament

The New Orleans Pelicans are in West Group B. Here’s a refresher on how the In-Season Tournament works.

Upcoming free agents

The New Orleans Pelicans have 11 players that will be free agents in 2024.

Kira Lewis Jr. (restricted)
Naji Marshall
Dereon Seabron (two-way player)
Jonas Valanciunas
Cody Zeller
Malcolm Hill (restricted)
Trey Jemison (restricted)
Tevian Jones (restricted)
Liam Robbins (restricted)
Landers Nolley II (restricted)
Kaiser Gates (two-way player)

Signed in 2022 as an undrafted free agent, Alvarado has a team option for 2024-25. He reportedly suffered an ankle injury during offseason workouts, leaving his availability for training camp in question after a stress reaction in his right tibia last February forced the guard to sit out the remainder of the season. He’s extension eligible in March. Lewis, meanwhile, hits restricted free agency in 2024. Marshall, coming off a career-high 77 games played in 2022-23, is set to become a free agent but has demonstrated he’s a valuable rotational piece.

New Orleans’ full roster can be found here.

New uniforms