Pelicans' Kobe Bufkin: Solid all-around effort in SL win
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Bufkin notched 19 points (7-15 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 3-3 FT), six rebounds, five assists, four steals and one block across 31 minutes in Saturday's 95-91 Summer League win over the Hornets.
Although Bufkin struggled mightily from three-point range, he still scored 19 points after dropping 30 in the team's Las Vegas Summer League opener Thursday. The 22-year-old guard delivered a well-rounded line Saturday, leading New Orleans in rebounds while finishing second on the team in points and assists. He also filled the stat sheet defensively, chipping in a game-best five combined steals-plus-blocks.
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Pelicans' Hunter Dickinson: Scores 21 points in SL win
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Dickinson finished Saturday's 95-91 Summer League win over the Hornets with 21 points (9-18 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 0-1 FT), three rebounds and three assists across 26 minutes.
Dickinson was aggressive hunting his shot Saturday and finished with a game-high 21 points. The big man also led all players in triples made and was third on the Pelicans in assists. The 25-year-old signed another two-way pact with New Orleans and figures to spend most of his time with the club's G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, in 2026-27.
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Pelicans' Markquis Nowell: Scores 20 points in Summer League
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Nowell produced 20 points (7-14 FG, 5-9 3Pt, 1-1 FT), six assists, four rebounds and five steals in 31 minutes of Thursday's 105-92 Summer League loss to the Timberwolves.
Nowell, who has had some excellent moments in the G League, has just one career NBA appearance. He made a strong impression Thursday and could be in the mix for a training camp invitation.
Bufkin produced 30 points (8-16 FG, 5-9 3Pt, 6-9 FT), two assists, six rebounds and one block in 32 minutes during Thursday's 105-92 Summer League loss to Minnesota.
Bufkin scored a game-high 30 points Thursday. After averaging a career-low 7.4 minutes per game before being waived the Lakers last season, the 2023 first-rounder is searching for a new home in 2026-27 as an unrestricted free agent this summer.
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Pelicans' Jalon Moore: Moving past ruptured Achilles
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Moore (Achilles) is starting Thursday's Summer League game against Minnesota.
Moore missed all of the 2025-26 season with a ruptured right Achilles, which he suffered last June, but his comeback trail begins Thursday. The Oklahoma product is looking to draw some attention ahead of training camp this fall.
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Pelicans' Hunter Dickinson: Re-signs with New Orleans
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Dickinson signed a two-way contract with the Pelicans on Tuesday, Paul Garcia of The Spot Up Shot reports.
Dickinson was also signed to a two-way deal with the Pelicans last season, during which he averaged 2.4 points in 8.4 minutes per game across just five regular-season appearances. He'll likely continue spending most of his time with the Pelicans' G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, in 2026-27.
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Pelicans' DeAndre Jordan: Returning to New Orleans
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Jordan re-signed with the Pelicans on Tuesday, Chris Haynes of NBA TV reports.
The terms of the agreement are not yet clear, but it figures to be a one-year contract for the veteran's minimum. The 37-year-old center, who's entering his 19th season in the NBA, offers the Pelicans leadership and a veteran presence for their young big men like Derik Queen, Yves Missi and Karlo Matkovic. Jordan made 16 regular-season appearances in 2025-26 for New Orleans, averaging 4.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 16.6 minutes per game.
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Pelicans' Melvin Council: Signs with New Orleans
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Council signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Pelicans on June 25, Dushawn London of 247 Sports reports.
Council will head to New Orleans to compete for a roster spot during training camp. During the 2025-26 season at Kansas, Council averaged 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.1 three-pointers.
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Pelicans' Kevon Looney: Expected to enter free agency
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The Pelicans are expected to decline the $8 million team option on Looney's contract, Chris Haynes of NBA TV reports.
After spending the first 10 years of his career with Golden State, Looney joined New Orleans for the 2025-26 campaign. The veteran big man played a limited role for the club and appeared in just 21 regular-season games (eight starts), averaging 2.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists across 14.7 minutes per contest. He's now expected to enter unrestricted free agency.
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Pelicans' Karlo Matkovic: Team option picked up
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The Pelicans announced Thursday that they exercised the third-year option on Matkovic (back).
Matkovic is set to compete with Yves Missi (hand) and Derik Queen for the top center spot in 2026-27. Last regular season, Matkovic averaged 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 14.7 minutes per contest across 62 games while shooting 60.4 percent from the field.
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Pelicans' Chris Bell: Agrees to Exhibit 10 contract
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Bell agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Pelicans on Thursday, Jake Weingarten of Stockrisers reports.
Bell played for Syracuse before ending his college career at California. He appeared in 34 regular-season games for the Golden Bears in 2025-26, averaging 14.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.6 blocks, 0.5 steals and 40.0 percent shooting from deep across 27.8 minutes.
Pelicans' Jaron Pierre: Selected at No. 58 by New Orleans
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Pierre was selected by the Pelicans with the No. 58 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Pierre has a smooth shooting stroke and is confident firing away from deep. After stops at Southern Miss, Wichita State and Jacksonville State, the 6-foot-5 wing averaged 17.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.4 triples and 1.0 steals per game on 46/37/76 shooting splits during his senior season at SMU. He was much more efficient at SMU than he was at his previous schools, but the adjustment to the NBA level will be difficult.
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