Johnny O'Neil, a 24-year-old rookie forward, is on the New Orleans Pelicans roster as of Tuesday, Sep. 15, moving from free agency with no prior team. The Pelicans now carry 22 players, and O'Neil's contract terms are not yet on file.
The move
O'Neil, a 24-year-old forward with no NBA experience, joins the New Orleans Pelicans from free agency, where he held no prior roster spot. The move was detected from the official roster on Tuesday, Sep. 15. No report logged a signing in advance of the roster listing, so there is no source or confidence level to cite for the transaction ahead of time. O'Neil enters a Pelicans roster that now numbers 22 players under the standard limit of 15 plus three two-way slots.
The money
O'Neil's contract terms are not on file yet; public salary data can lag a signing by a day. The Pelicans carry a payroll of $196.5 million across 18 contracts for 2026-27, putting the club over the salary cap of $165.0 million but under the luxury tax line of $200.4 million. New Orleans also sits below the first apron of $209.0 million and the second apron of $221.7 million. Until O'Neil's cap figure is on file, his exact effect on those thresholds is not announced.
The fit
O'Neil has no NBA line from last season. He joins a Pelicans forward group that last season featured Trey Murphy III at 35.5 minutes and 21.5 points, Saddiq Bey at 31.2 minutes and 17.7 points, Zion Williamson at 29.7 minutes and 21.0 points, and Herbert Jones at 28.4 minutes and 8.9 points. Dejounte Murray, Josh Oduro, Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen rounded out last season's rotation. New Orleans now has 22 players on its roster, and where O'Neil fits into that mix is not announced.
Did a report predict this move?
No report is logged as preceding it. The transaction was detected from the official roster on Tuesday, Sep. 15.
What is Johnny O'Neil's contract with the Pelicans?
It is not on file yet. Public salary data can lag a signing by a day.
How many players are on the Pelicans roster now?
22, against a standard limit of 15 plus three two-way slots.
Where do the Pelicans stand against the salary cap and tax?
New Orleans carries a $196.5 million payroll across 18 contracts for 2026-27: over the $165.0 million cap, under the $200.4 million tax, and below both the $209.0 million first apron and the $221.7 million second apron.
What did O'Neil do last season?
He has no NBA line from last season.