New Orleans Pelicans 2026-27 NBA Season Lookahead

Dan is joined by Shamit Dua (@FearTheBrown) of In The NO to break down the 2026-27 New Orleans Pelicans. Follow all of In The NO’s written and podcast work HERE. TIMESTAMPS⤵️0:00 - INTRO0:56 - Pelicans’ direction2:52 - Jamahl Mosley hire4:40 - Can the Pelicans improve defensively?6:35 - The Zion Williamson-Derik Queen dynamic8:59 - Derik Queen’s continued development13:58 - Jeremiah Fears’ continued development17:20 - Bennedict Mathurin’s fit21:39 - Dejounte Murray’s performance23:03 - The no-center lineup24:30 - Importance of Trey Murphy III29:11 - Herb Jones’ impact32:41 - The center rotation34:37 - Biggest needs35:16 - Can the Pelicans be better than expected? + Saddiq Bey37:01 - Top-10 rotation37:59 - Go-to closing unit38:16 - Weirdo lineups we want to see39:15 - Is the front office under pressure?43:07 - PREDICTIONSSUPPORT US ON PATREON 🫶SUPPORT THE SHOW BY PURCHASING HARDWOOD KNOCKS MERCHSUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️TikTok: @hardwoodknocksTwitter @HardwoodKnocksInstagram: @hardwood_knocks Dan's Bluesky: @danfavaleDan's Twitter: @danfavaleDan's IG: @danfavaleGrant's Bluesky: @granthughesBUSINESS INQUIRES⬇️hardwoodknocks@gmail.com