New Orleans Pelicans operation chief Joe Dumars talks with the media during Pelicans media day at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD
STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD
The New Orleans Pelicans have trimmed their roster to 18, the number allowed by the NBA.
To get to that number, the Pelicans waived guard Kobe Bufkin and forward Jalon Moore on Saturday.
Bufkin averaged 5 points and one rebound in the three preseason games he played.
Moore, who the Pelicans signed on Oct. 10, played in the preseason game against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday but didn’t play in Friday’s game against the Washington Wizards. He scored one point, going 1-for-4 from the free throw line, against the Mavs.
The Pelicans now have 15 players on standard contracts, plus three players on a 2-way contract.
Jaron Pierre, Malika Dia and Julian Reese are on 2-way contracts and will split time between the Pelicans and the Laketown Squadron, the G-League affiliate in Kenner.
The 15 players on a standard contract are: Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Dejounte Murray, Zion Williamson, Jeremiah Fears, Yves Missi, Karlo Matkovic, Bennedict Mathurin, Jordan Poole, Derik Queen, Saddiq Bey, DeAndrew Jordan, AJ Johnson, Bryce McGowens and Trendon Watford.