The New Orleans Pelicans have made another offseason move as they signed center Christian Koloko to a training camp deal as they figure out what to do with their final roster spot.
The Pelicans will now have 18 confirmed bodies in camp. They have one open roster spot to dole out, though more could come with trades. They also two-way spot they can assign as well.
Here is where the team currently stands:
PG Jeremiah Fears
PG Dejounte Murray
Combo Guard Jordan Poole
SG Jordan Hawkins
SG Jaron Pierre Jr. - Two-Way Contract
G Kobe Bufkin - Training Camp Contract
New Orleans could do a lot of work with this guard group, which is needed because there is currently a lot of wasted money in this unit. Jordan Poole and Jordan Hawkins make up nearly $40 million and might not be in the rotation. They have potentially been looking into Bennedict Mathurin, as well, who would obviously soak up all the minutes as a third guard.
Fears and Murray are going to be the two main guards and both command a majority of the ball-handler minutes. Fears is the future of the franchise and Murray is a nice bridge, but it would be nice to find a longer term partner.
SF/SG Trey Murphy III
SG/SF Herbert Jones Jr.
F Saddiq Bey
SG/SF Micah Peavy
SG/SF Bryce McGowens
The Pelicans have also looked into making some additions to the wing. This is the strongest group on the roster and will already be the heart of the team next year, but could still have some work. The team could always use more three-and-D options, every team in the league can. That's why they've looked into players like Ziaire Williams and Spencer Jones, but they have not been able to pull the trigger on a deal yet.
PF Zion Williamson
C Yves Missi
C/F Derik Queen
C Karlo Matkovic
C DeAndre Jordan
C Hunter Dickinson - Two-Way Contract
C Christian Koloko - Training Camp Contract
This could very well be the group that the Pelicans enter next season with. Koloko would replace the bench enforcer role that Kevon Looney took up last season and allow Jordan to continue as the end-of-bench veteran who is used sparingly.
Koloko could be described as a band-aid for some of the physicality that the front court lacked last year, but they will also certainly need to hope that Queen and Missi develop this offseason.
There are things to get excited about, like Queen's unique playstyle and Missi's elite athleticism, but this is still probably a little ways away from being a complete unit.
