Podcast Summary: Can the Pelicans turn things around this season?

Podcast: The Athletic NBA Daily
Date: September 17, 2025
Hosts: Andrew Schlecht
Guest: Will Guillory (Pelicans beat writer, The Athletic)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the New Orleans Pelicans' eventful offseason and considers their prospects for the upcoming NBA season. Andrew Schlecht welcomes Pelicans reporter Will Guillory to evaluate seismic changes—both on the roster and in the front office—while dissecting the high stakes attached to several controversial moves. The discussion covers player development, looming pressure points for the franchise, and candid assessments of what it would actually take for the Pelicans to turn things around.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Pelicans' Tumultuous Offseason & Front Office Overhaul

• Biggest Change: The most impactful shift was the removal of David Griffin and arrival of Joe Dumars as the head of basketball operations.

  • "[Joe Dumars has] already made some massive changes this offseason... not just with the moves on the roster, but culturally. He's already doing some things behind the scenes." —Will Guillory [03:13]

• New Leadership Style: Dumars sought to establish a personal connection with Zion Williamson and to stamp his own vision on the franchise.

  • Developed close relationships with key players ("...bringing Zion and [Dumars] watching playoff games together...") [03:32]
  • Targeted making the team both younger and more flexible.

2. Controversial Roster Moves: Ranking the Surprises

“Ranking the Crazy Moves” [04:48]

• #1: Unprotected 2026 First-Round Pick for Derrick Queen

  • Criticized as a major risk given draft uncertainty:
    "To give up an unprotected pick... it's wild." —Will Guillory [05:02]
  • Looming anxiety among fans about the pick’s value if the season falters.

• #2: CJ McCollum for Jordan Poole Trade

  • Seen as a gamble—Poole’s Wizards days color perceptions, but there’s cautious optimism for a bounce-back.

• #3: Kevon Looney’s Two-Year, $16 Million Deal

  • Slight head-scratcher due to recent difficulty breaking into the rotation with Golden State.

• Impact on Derrick Queen: The pressure is squarely on the rookie given the assets surrendered for him:

  • "He can't just be a normal player... he has that attached to him, which is no fault of his own."—Andrew [06:28]

• Queen’s Confidence: In his first presser, Queen boldly declared:
  "The Pelicans are right for making that trade, because I'm better than all those dudes in [the 2026] draft class." —Will Guillory retelling [07:31]

3. Player Development: Trey Murphy and the New Core

• Trey Murphy as Breakout Candidate

  • Guillory anticipates Murphy could step into a bigger role (“...can he consistently score 20 points a game... be in that all-star conversation?”) [08:36]
  • High-value contract extension praised for flexibility.

• Murphy’s Perfect Fit:

  • "If he continues to up his three-point production... that would be huge for the Pelicans." —Andrew [10:30]

• Potential as Trade Chip: If rebuilding accelerates, Murphy’s age and contract make him coveted around the league.

4. Zion Williamson: The Defining Factor

• All Eyes on Zion

  • Perennial uncertainty — “Higher pressure than ever before” for Zion to anchor the team [12:13].
  • Acknowledged history of health woes: “They just need these guys to play...” [09:40]

• Front Office Investment: Newfound focus on supporting Zion as a franchise cornerstone—both on and off the court.

  • Relationship with Dumars = instant chemistry compared to former management.

• Physical & Mental Readiness:

  • "He's been in amazing shape. I think he's figured some things out as far as how to take care of his body, how to eat right... but again, none of it matters unless he plays." —Will [15:39]
  • Reference to his dominant game vs. the Timberwolves as a reminder of his peak ability [16:55].

• Quote:

  "If Zion has another year where he’s playing 20, 30 games, they’re going to crater ... [and] be facing some major questions with this team." —Will Guillory [14:00]

5. Young Talent: Jeremiah Fears & Rookie Development

• Jeremiah Fears (Point Guard)
  • Youth and fearless attitude highlighted (“...they really are excited about [the] attitude he brings to the gym.”) [18:13]
  • Likely to start his NBA tenure behind veterans: “It’s going to be beneficial for him to learn on the bench, to kind of play some of those stay fit games, maybe even spend a little time in the G League.” [19:30]

6. Dejounte Murray’s Return and Locker Room Dynamics

• Murray’s Injury & Important Off-Court Role
  • Torn Achilles in January; likely to return post-New Year, but uncertainty about his level of play at first.
  • After a tumultuous previous season, the team hopes Murray can mentor young players—especially crucial after CJ McCollum’s departure.
  • "They need a strong personality. They need some leadership, especially with CJ McCollum leaving the building." —Will Guillory [27:50]

7. Roster Construction & Areas of Concern

Biggest “Swing Factors”

• Depth at Center

  • Serious doubts about having two playable centers:
    • "Does this team have two playable centers? I think it's going to be a real question..." —Will [28:26]
  • Eve Mece (young, but limited rebounder) and the hope Kevin Looney can fill a bigger role.

• Rebounding and Interior Defense

  • Last season’s bottom-five rebounding finishes cast a shadow on the team’s ability to compete physically.
  • Increasing trend toward “double big” lineups in the NBA; Pelicans may struggle to match up without a reliable frontcourt rotation [29:20-30:30].

8. Realistic Season Outlook

• Not Optimistic for Playoffs

  • Most likely finish: Outside the playoff picture, perhaps in play-in contention if Zion remains healthy.
  • “If everything goes great, they look pretty good. But if, if history repeats itself, nothing will go right with this team. They'll be hurt again... and facing some major questions with this team.” —Will Guillory [32:08]

• Potential Consequences

  • If the team struggles, expect scrutiny over roster moves (especially the unprotected pick), possible reevaluation of Zion’s and Trey Murphy’s future, and questioning of Willie Green’s status as head coach.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• The Pelicans Writer Experience:
  "People react to you like you just have a tragedy going on in life." —Will Guillory [02:09]

• On Derrick Queen’s Swagger:
  “One of the things I love about Derrick Queen—doesn’t hold his tongue for anybody...” [07:31]

• On Zion/Team Future:
  “They need Zion Williamson to lift this team up, to save them from basically having to go into a hard rebuild.” [13:12]

• On Center Depth Problems:
  “Do they have enough bigs to be functional?” —Will Guillory [30:00]

• On Overall Team Outlook:
  “Nothing ever works out with this team.” —Will Guillory [32:35]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Pelicans Offseason Changes & Dumars’ Impact – [03:13]
• Ranking the Crazy Roster Moves – [04:48]
• Derrick Queen’s Press Conference & Pressure – [07:31]
• Trey Murphy’s Development and Value – [08:36]
• Zion’s Crucial Season & Organizational Investment – [12:13]
• Physical State of Zion & Relationship with Dumars – [15:39]
• Jeremiah Fears and Youth Movement – [17:47]
• Dejounte Murray’s Status & Locker Room Role – [24:51]
• Biggest Swing Factor: Center Depth – [28:26]
• Projected Realistic Outcome – [31:47]

Conclusion

Will Guillory and Andrew Schlecht offer a candid, nuanced look at the Pelicans’ hefty summer gamble. While there is no denying the mix of exciting young talent and unresolved pressure—for both the on-court product and those steering the franchise—the Pelicans enter the 2025-26 season with more questions than sure answers. The team’s trajectory will hinge on Zion Williamson’s health, how quickly new additions can develop, and whether the franchise’s latest high-stakes risks pay off—or backfire spectacularly. One thing's certain, as both hosts note: "They will surely be interesting."