New Orleans Pelicans 2024-25 Season Preview, Predictions, & Odds

The New Orleans Pelicans traded for Dejounte Murray after being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.

NBA futures odds are available to bet online at the BetMGM online sportsbook, including basketball lines for NBA champion, division winner, and player awards.

New Orleans Pelicans Futures Odds

Win Total: 46.5

Southwest Division: +350

Western Conference: +2000

NBA Championship: +5000

The NBA betting odds market is giving the Pelicans the same championship price as last season.

New Orleans Pelicans Offseason Moves

The Pelicans added Murray in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks.

New Orleans lost Dyson Daniels, Jonas Valančiūnas, Naji Marshall, and Larry Nance Jr.  

New Orleans Pelicans Additions

New Orleans Pelicans Departures

New Orleans Pelicans 2024-25 Betting Prediction

Prediction: Over 46.5 Wins (-110)

I predict that the Pelicans will win over 46.5 games.

Zion Williamson has struggled to stay on the court due to various injuries for most of his career, but he played in a career-high 70 games last season.

However, Williamson suffered a leg injury during the Pelicans’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in their first play-in game, which sidelined him for New Orleans’ second play-in game, a win over the Sacramento Kings, as well as the playoffs.

In his first-ever postseason game…

Zion Williamson went for 40 POINTS in the #SoFiPlayIn.

Pelicans fall to Lakers and will host winner of Warriors/Kings on Friday. pic.twitter.com/C794Jk3DRQ

— NBA (@NBA) April 17, 2024

Williamson has lost a ton of weight, according to images that surfaced from his basketball camp in August. He was said to be down to 281 pounds, four pounds less than what he weighed at Duke, and intends to go down to 272 pounds.

Williamson has a quick first step and great control of the ball on drives to the rim, as his strength and explosion help him finish through contact. He’s also adept at making the right cuts and filling the lane.

Williamson’s ability to run the pick-and-roll also helps him get downhill and opens up his playmaking game, enabling him to kick out to open teammates behind the 3-point line or at the rim since the defence is fully focused on denying him access to the basket.

Brandon Ingram is the lead shot creator for the Pelicans, but health is also a concern for him, as he missed 18 games last season and 37 the year before.

Ingram is a decent 3-point shooter, but he thrives when he creates off the dribble in the midrange, whether he goes into a pull-up or turnaround fadeaway jumper. Ingram is also a threat to attack the rim, given his ability to change speeds, incredible ball-handling skills, and length.

Ingram is a solid playmaker who can manipulate defenders, throw no-look passes, make quick bullet passes to his teammates, and push the ball out in transition.

Murray will take over as the point guard for New Orleans, as he brings solid shot creation off the dribble from behind the arc and in the midrange. Murray’s filthy crossover also helps him attack the teeth of the defence, leading to many layups and floaters.

Murray will also go back to being the primary playmaker in The Big Easy. He averaged 9.2 assists per game in his last season with the San Antonio Spurs before his stint in Atlanta.

Murray will certainly be tasked with finding Williamson open, working with him on the pick-and-roll, and leading him to his spots, especially on the break. He’ll also benefit from having Ingram, CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy III, and Herbert Jones a pass away to inflict damage from downtown.

McCollum will slide over to his more natural shooting guard position, where he doesn’t need to worry about running the offence and instead focus on running high pick-and-roll actions to free himself up for pull-up midrange jumpers, 3-point attempts, or lanes to attack the basket. His floater, in particular, is tough to contain.

The Pelicans will be relying on Yves Missi, Daniel Theis, Trey Jemison, and Karlo Matkovic to hold down the center spot with the loss of Valančiūnas. However, it’s going to be hard to replace the scoring and rebounding that Valančiūnas brought to the table, so expect some growing pains to take place.

With Murphy III, Jones, and Ingram there to provide suffocating defence on the wing and Murray and Jose Alvarado handling the point-of-attack defence, this team should be among the strongest groups defensively heading into the season.

I expect Williamson to take another step toward his potential, and for all the pieces to mesh well together with Pelicans coach Willie Green running the show.