We’ve summarized what New Orleans Pelicans fans can expect from their squad in terms of salary cap space this offseason. Below you’ll find lists of the players expected back on the roster, the team’s potential free agents and a number of insights about questions the franchise will face before the 2021 campaign.
In addition to a summary for each of the 30 teams (accessible in the link grid below), we’ve also tiered the top NBA free agents league-wide and published a general comparison of all teams’ cap space. Follow @SLAMnewswire on Twitter for constant offseason updates as we head into free agency.
Projected Roster Players
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | $3,113,160 | Guaranteed |
| Lonzo Ball | $11,003,782 | Guaranteed |
| Josh Hart | $3,491,159 | Guaranteed |
| Jaxson Hayes | $5,105,160 | Guaranteed |
| Jrue Holiday | $25,876,111 | Guaranteed |
| Nicolo Melli | $3,897,436 | Guaranteed |
| JJ Redick | $13,013,700 | Guaranteed |
| Zion Williamson | $10,245,480 | Guaranteed |
Projected Free Agents
| Zylan Cheatham | $1,445,697 | Cap Hold – UFA, 2W |
| Derrick Favors | $26,475,000 | Cap Hold – UFA |
| Josh Gray | $1,445,697 | Cap Hold – UFA, 2W |
| Brandon Ingram | $21,796,456 | Cap Hold – RFA |
| Frank Jackson | $2,023,150 | Cap Hold – RFA |
| E’Twaun Moore | $12,997,392 | Cap Hold – UFA |
| Jahlil Okafor | $1,620,564 | Cap Hold – UFA |
| Kenrich Williams | $1,820.564 | Cap Hold – RFA |
Projected Waived Players
| Darius Miller | UFA – Waived |
2020 NBA Draft Picks
| 2020 Pick #13 | $3,640,200 |
| 2020 Pick #39 | No Cap Hold |
| 2020 Pick #42 | No Cap Hold |
| 2020 Pick #60 | No Cap Hold |
Exceptions Available
- Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception – $9,258,000
- Bi-Annual Exception – $3,623,000
Key Offseason Decisions
- The only real decision the Pelicans need to make this summer is if they should waive Darius Miller or not. Miller has a fully non-guaranteed contract for $7M. If he’s guaranteed, that’s a nice piece for salary matching in a trade. But coming off a major injury, it’s more likely Miller will be waived.
- Next up is: Can New Orleans get Brandon Ingram signed to a full max deal before being forced to match an offer sheet. It’s likely Ingram and New Orleans will come to agreement on a four or five-year max contract right as free agency opens.
Projected Team Salary
$149,010,708
Cut and dry offseason for New Orleans. No options to worry about. No real decisions to be made on qualifying offers. Brandon Ingram will initially be made a restricted free agent, but should quickly sign a max contract. After that, it’s about retaining Derrick Favors or not and then filling out the rest of the roster to make a playoff push. (@KeithSmithNBA)
Cap Space Forecast
-$39,870,708 (13th out of 30). $42,928,840 under the Luxury Tax.
