Johnny O'Neil, a 24-year-old rookie forward, is no longer on the New Orleans Pelicans roster as of the team's official roster update on Tuesday, Sep 15. No contract terms are on file for him yet, and no report had flagged the move in advance.
The move
Johnny O'Neil, a 24-year-old rookie forward, leaves the New Orleans Pelicans roster. The change was detected off the club's official roster on Tuesday, Sep 15, moving him off the roster entirely. No report preceded the move; none is logged for O'Neil. The circumstances behind his departure are not announced.
The money
O'Neil's contract is not on file yet; public salary data can lag a signing or move by a day, so his cap hit and any years on the deal are not known at this time. The Pelicans carry $196.5M in payroll across 18 contracts for 2026-27. That is over the $165.0M salary cap but under the $200.4M luxury tax line, with the first apron at $209.0M and the second apron at $221.7M.
The fit
O'Neil has no NBA line from last season. The Pelicans' forward spots were led last season by 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. New Orleans still carries 20 players on its roster, against a standard limit of 15 plus three two-way spots.
Why did Johnny O'Neil leave the Pelicans roster?
The reason is not announced. The move was detected from the team's official roster on Tuesday, Sep 15, and no report preceded it.
What is Johnny O'Neil's contract with the Pelicans?
His contract is not on file yet. Public salary data can lag a signing or roster move by a day.
How does this affect the Pelicans' payroll?
New Orleans carries $196.5M in payroll across 18 contracts for 2026-27, over the $165.0M cap but under the $200.4M tax line, with aprons at $209.0M and $221.7M.