Pelicans 2024-25 Betting Preview: Prediction, Roster Projection

Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans drives with the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during a play-in tournament game at the Smoothie King Center on April 16, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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  • The New Orleans Pelicans went 49-33 last year.
  • New Orleansโ€™ win total is 46.5 ahead of 2024-25.

Following last yearโ€™s first-round exit, the New Orleans Pelicans added Dejounte Murray to take the next step in a loaded Western Conference.

NBA futures odds are available at the online sportsbook, including New Orleans Pelicans odds for NBA champion, division winner, and player awards.

Pelicans Futures Odds

Win Total: 46.5
Southwest Division: +375
Western Conference: +2000
NBA Championship: +5000

Despite the addition of Murray, the NBA odds market has a similar view of this yearโ€™s Pelicans.

New Orleans is +5000 to win the title, which is the same price as last offseason. The Pelicans are +375 to win the Southwest division after being +240 last year.

The Pelicansโ€™ win total has climbed two games after winning 49 games last year.

Pelicans Offseason Moves

Itโ€™s been a busy offseason for the Pelicans, and they might not be done yet.

Additions

PlayerPosition
Jamal CainF
Trey JemisonPF
Karlo Matkoviฤ‡PF
Yves MissiC
Dejounte MurraySG
Antonio ReevesW
Daniel TheisC

Departures

PlayerPosition
Dyson DanielsW
E.J. LiddellPF
Naji MarshallSF
Larry Nance Jr.SF
Dereon SeabronSG
Jonas ValanฤiลซnasC
Cody ZellerF

The Pelicans sent two first-round picks, including the Los Angeles Lakersโ€™ pick in 2025, to the Atlanta Hawks for Murray. Larry Nance Jr., E.J. Liddell, and Dyson Daniels were also sent to Atlanta in the deal.

Losing Danielsโ€™ defensive contributions will be especially difficult, but the Pelicans added a talented playmaker in Murray, who is 27 years old. He averaged a career-best 22.5 points per game last season.

The Pelicans could trade Brandon Ingram before the season, as they look for a center upgrade after losing Jonas Valanฤiลซnas. If not, Zion Williamson could see more minutes in that position this year.

Pelicans 2024 Betting Prediction

Prediction: Under 46.5 Wins (-110)

The Pelicans made the playoffs last year as the No. 8 seed after going 1-1 in the play-in tournament.ย 

In a typical year, they might not have needed the play-in to notch a playoff berth after winning 49 games to clear their preseason over/under of 44.5.

It marked the first time since 2017-18 that the Pels had cleared their win total. They finished under their preseason win total four times, not counting a COVID-shortened campaign.

But itโ€™s difficult to expect a similar campaign from the Pelicans, especially with the West getting even more challenging; the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs are all lurking after missing the play-in last year.

Many of the top teams in the Western Conference have a center to lean on, which could prove to be a mismatch against New Orleans. The loss of Daniels will also be more impactful than most realize.

I have a hard time seeing the Pels win 47-plus games this year.

2024-25 NBA Team Previews & Predictions

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Our BetMGM editors and authors are sports experts with a wealth of knowledge of the sports industry at all levels. Their coverage includes sports news, previews and predictions, fun facts, and betting.

Our BetMGM editors and authors are sports experts with a wealth of knowledge of the sports industry at all levels. Their coverage includes sports news, previews and predictions, fun facts, and betting.