The New Orleans Pelicans are one of the more interesting teams entering the 2025-26 NBA campaign, but there are several questions Willie Green's team needs to answer if it's to reach the postseason.
While many national observers have written off the Pelicans as a cursed franchise, the roster on paper looks like a group that could finish closer to the 49 wins from the 2023-24 season as opposed to last season's 21-61 disaster class.
Here are the top five questions that need answers in order for the Pelicans to succeed this season.
Have to stay healthy
When discussing team health in New Orleans, forward Zion Williamson is obviously a top concern in terms of his availability. While dealing with a hamstring problem last season, the two-time NBA All-Star only suited up in 30 games. To take it a step further, Williamson has only played in 214 of his 482 possible career regular season games.
Another key player who needs to stay healthy this season is guard Trey Murphy III, who has played more than 63 games only once in four seasons.
To start this year, point guard Dejounte Murray, center Kevon Looney and forward Derik Queen are all dealing with injuries. Backup point guard Jose Alvarado has also been banged up a couple of times this offseason, as he left the court on a stretcher during an August AmeriCup game while playing for Puerto Rico and he was banged up in a Pelicans preseason game in Australia.
The re-integration of Dejounte Murray
Rookie guard Jeremiah Fears has shown some promise during the preseason, averaging 13.8 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. In two games against the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic, he put up 20- and 16-point performances.
If Fears has developed into one of the league's best rookies by the time Murray returns, how does Willie Green balance those minutes between the veteran and the young player finding his confidence? A return date for Murray, who is recovering from an Achilles tear, could range anywhere from late December to March.
All eyes on Queen
After the Pelicans made the NBA's most-discussed trade on draft night, can Queen back up the Pelicans' decision to trade away the team's unprotected draft pick? The former Maryland star claims he's better than any player in the 2026 draft, but Joe Dumars has said Queen's health is a priority for the team. During an interview in August, Dumars said he was focused on Queen's conditioning as he rehabbed from a left-wrist injury he suffered during the summer league in July.
There are plenty of examples of versatile bigs like Queen prospering in the NBA, but he needs to get on the court to show what he can do.
The Jordan Poole/Williamson pick-and-roll:
Jordan Poole and Williamson have a chance to give the Pelicans their most exciting two-man game in the pick-and-roll since Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis.
Not only has Poole averaged at least 20 points in two of the last three seasons, he's also put up an average of at least 4 assists in each of the last four seasons. Combine Poole's ballhandling skills and three-pointers with Williamson's playmaking ability and powerful drives to the basket, and the Pelicans could become must-watch TV.
Figuring out point guard
Even with the amount of new talent coming in, the point guard and center positions are somewhat uncertain spots in the lineup.
Murray and Looney were expected to be starters, but both players start the season out with injuries.
Fears, Poole and Alvarado give the Pelicans options at point guard.
At center, Missi has a chance to show he can take a step forward in his second season. Or does Queen shift into the five spot and take over?
Questions remain for the Pelicans, and Green has to hope they are answered quickly.