It's been a busy offseason for the New Orleans Pelicans, who see first-time head coach Willie Green take over at the helm as they look to return to the postseason after a three-year absence.
After narrowly missing out on a spot in the Play-in Tournament in 2021, the Pelicans made a few key personnel changes, but did they get better?
New Orleans opens the season at home on Wednesday, Oct. 20 against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Depth chart
| Starters | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth | |
| PG | Devonte' Graham | Tomas Satoransky | Kira Lewis Jr. | Jared Harper | |
| SG | Nickeil Alexander-Walker | Josh Hart | Didi Louzada | Jose Alvarado | Trey Murphy III |
| SF | Brandon Ingram | Garrett Temple | Herbert Jones | Zylan Cheatham | James Nunnally |
| PF | Zion Williamson | Naji Marshall | Wenyen Gabriel | Daulton Hommes | |
| C | Jonas Valanciunas | Jaxson Hayes | Willy Hernangomez |
Two-way: Daulton Hommes (forward) James Nunnally (forward) Jose Alvarado (guard)
Training camp/Exhibit 10: Jared Harper (guard), Zylan Cheatham (forward)
Key additions and subtractions
The Pelicans acquired Jonas Valanciunas from the Memphis Grizzlies via trade, with Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe heading the other way. They were active in the trade market, acquiring point guard Devonte' Graham in a sign-and-trade with the Charlotte Hornets, while Lonzo Ball left for the Chicago Bulls in a sign-and-trade that saw Tomas Satoransky and Garrett Temple arrive in New Orleans.
In free agency, they re-signed shooting guard Josh Hart to a three-year, $38 million deal, re-signed Didi Louzada to a four-year, $7.6 million deal and re-signed Willy Hernangomez to a three-year, $7.6 million contract.
In the 2021 NBA Draft, the Pelicans acquired Trey Murphy III , the No. 17 overall pick and Herbert Jones with the No. 35 overall pick.
Positional battles
With Lonzo Ball leaving town, the Pelicans will have real competition for the starting point guard job between newly-acquired Devonte' Graham and third-year guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who has shown flashes of his potential in his first two seasons as a backup.
They'll likely play alongside each other, with Alexander-Walker to spend plenty of time at the two and Josh Hart also in the mix.
The minutes are up for grabs in the Pelicans backcourt, with no clear No.1 option at either position. Kira Lewis Jr. has also shown plenty of promise, but he'll face competition from the experienced Tomas Satoransky.
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