Pelicans Nightly

New Orleans played four preseason games, and three of them came on the road. The Pelicans opened on Oct. 6 at Oklahoma City and won 116-110. Two days later, on Oct. 8, they lost 128-118 at Miami. That was the one game where the defense gave up big numbers. On Oct. 14 they won a low-scoring game at Dallas, 101-97. They closed the preseason at home on Oct. 16 and beat Washington 107-106 in a one-point game. Preseason results don't count in the standings, and rotations in October rarely match what a coach uses in November. Still, the team won close games on the road and at home. For a group that won 26 games last season, that is a reasonable way to head into the opener.

Trey Murphy III led the team in scoring last season. He averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 66 games, played 35.5 minutes a night and shot 37.9 percent from three. Zion Williamson played 62 games last season, his number to watch every year. He averaged 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 29.7 minutes. His +/- of -1.3 was among the better marks on a losing team. Saddiq Bey gave the Pelicans durability. He played 72 games, averaged 17.7 points and 5.6 rebounds, and shot 36.7 percent from three. Bennedict Mathurin added 17.6 points per game in 54 games last season, but he shot 31.5 percent from deep. Herbert Jones, at 28, is the veteran defender on the wing. He scored 8.9 points per game last season.

The second-year group carried a heavy load as rookies last season. Jeremiah Fears played all 82 games and averaged 14.3 points and 3.4 assists. He is 20. Derik Queen played 81 games and averaged 11.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He is 21 and lists at center. Per an Oct. 20 report, the Pelicans exercised their options on Fears, Queen and Yves Missi. That would keep all three under their current contracts. Missi, 22, is entering his third season. AJ Johnson, 21, is also young and is in his third year. Two rookies made the roster: guard Jaron Pierre Jr. and forward Malik Dia. Julian Reese played just 13 games last season, but he averaged 10.5 rebounds in 30.9 minutes.

Four players from last season's roster are gone. Kevon Looney is now with the Lakers. Jordan Hawkins signed with the Bulls, and Trey Alexander is with the Jazz. Micah Peavy is a free agent and remains unsigned. The front office kept trimming in preseason. Per an Oct. 17 report, the Pelicans waived Kobe Bufkin and Jalon Moore. Several minor roster moves involving New Orleans were also reported on Oct. 16 and Oct. 17. With Looney gone, the center room is Queen, Missi, Karlo Matkovic and DeAndre Jordan. Jordan is 38 and in his 18th season, which makes him the clear veteran in the locker room. Dejounte Murray, 30, is the other veteran voice in the backcourt, with Jordan Poole at 27.

New Orleans went 26-56 last season, and the team ratings show why. The Pelicans posted an offensive rating of 113.3 and a defensive rating of 117.6, for a net rating of -4.4. The defense was the bigger problem. The team played fast, with a pace of 101.4, and scored 115.5 points per game. Shooting was middle of the road: a 52.7 effective field goal percentage and a 56.8 true shooting percentage. Most of the regulars finished with a negative +/-. Dejounte Murray was one exception at +1.4, but he played only 14 games. In those games he averaged 16.7 points and 6.4 assists. A full season from Murray and another healthy year from Williamson would give this roster a different look than last year's.