The New Orleans Pelicans are coming off back-to-back seasons when they failed to reach 30 wins. Outside of a coaching change, they didn’t make many changes.

As a result, the oddsmakers in Vegas have the over/under on Pelicans’ wins at 29.5

We surveyed 18 credentialed New Orleans media members who cover the Pelicans regularly to get their predictions for the season. The outlook is a tad bit more optimistic, with the win total averaging 35.7 wins among the participants. 

Here is what each local media member had to say:

Madeline Adams, WVUE: I think this is a deeper Pelicans team than we’ve seen in recent years. Because of that, I think they’re good enough for 13-15 more wins than last year. If (and I know that’s a big if) they have better injury luck, I think this team can surprise a lot of people. Record: 40-42

Chris Dodson, ClutchPoints – SouthCoast Swish podcast: Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy both make the All-Star team. Jeremiah Fears becomes undeniable, but the 20-year-old still needs another year of seasoning. The Saddiq Bey business is booming. And yet the Pelicans still finish the season with a couple of play-in games. Maybe they win their way in. Either way, Dejounte Murray, Jordan Poole and Bennedict Mathurin's production cannot overcome Yves Missi's lack of help against the West's best. Record: 37-45

Shamit Dua, In The N.O.: The Pelicans are bringing back mostly the same roster as last year, and I am bringing back mostly the same prediction as well. Last year I predicted 32 wins on the basis of a lack of shooting, center depth and guard play. The Pelicans did little to address these issues. This year I project 29 wins, a three-win improvement from where they finished last season. Record: 29-53

Les East, Crescent City Sports: Jamahl Mosley is an important upgrade as head coach, and the team at least starts out healthier than the last two years. The young but also experienced core will evolve, and the addition of Bennedict Mathurin amid no significant departures will be significant. If the health mostly holds and the center position proves to be adequate, this team will sneak into the play-in tournament. Record: 40-42 

Meagan Glover, WGNO: I believe the Pelicans will finish the regular season under .500 but make steps in the right direction. The Pelicans can win 35 games, with the potential to reach 40. New coach Jamahl Mosley brings in more defensive depth. The return of Dejounte Murray with a healthy roster should play a factor, which is what we witnessed in the back half of the year. The Pelicans could at least reach the play-in tournament. Record: 35-47

Sharief Ishaq, WDSU: I like the Jamahl Mosley hire. I think he will bring some toughness and physicality. I just don’t know how these pieces will work together. Can they get some production from the center position? Will spacing improve? Do they have enough perimeter shooting? Record: 30-52

Oleh Kosel, credentialed Pelicans writer: The most crucial pieces missing from last season were undoubtedly buy-in and defense. The addition of Jamahl Mosley and his coaching staff should start turning those weaknesses into strengths sooner than most believe. This is a maturing, deep and talented enough roster. Predicting a record well above .500 feels too ambitious with several pertinent question marks still remaining, so let's go with last year's prediction and another play-in but no playoffs vote. Record: 40-42

Jared Paul Joseph, WGNO: No playoffs, no play-in. I don't think this team has been as aggressive as the front office claimed it would be. The the lack of key additions will cost them when injuries inevitably happen. Record: 38-44

Terry Kimble, New Orleans Pelicans on SI: While the Pelicans have some talent, the pieces don't fit well. New Orleans did little to address two glaring offseason needs: 3-point shooting and a bona fide starting center. Zion Williamson played 62 games last season, yet the team won just 26. With largely the same roster back, expect more of the same in the Big Easy. Record: 32-50

Ricardo Lecompte, WWL-TV: Since the 26-win Pelicans from a year ago didn't make any significant moves this offseason, I'm going to give my same prediction from last year. However, I do think we'll see overall improvement under new coach Jamahl Mosley. That may come toward the back half of the season. The potential is there to see the best version of Zion Williamson. Plus, having Dejounte Murray available will be a huge benefit. The ceiling for this group is being a play-in tournament team. Record: 31-51

Seth Lewis, WWL-TV: I believe Jamahl Mosley will improve this team in Year 1. I believe the rotation is 10-11 deep. I’m just not sure there’s been enough changes for me to believe they’re in position now to be a playoff/play-in team. Record: 35-47 

Fletcher Mackel, WDSU TV: Interesting mix of players but hard to see how they fit together to equal winning. The Pelicans should have started a rebuild around Jeremiah Fears last summer. They will in 2027. Record: 30-52

Jake Madison, Locked On Pelicans podcast: The Pelicans have enough talent to be competitive, and Jamahl Mosley should improve their defense and establish a much-needed identity. But coaching can only overcome so much. The roster still has serious questions about spacing, defensive rebounding and how its pieces fit together. Development from Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen provides optimism, but the Western Conference leaves little margin for error. Record 34-48

Rashad Milligan, Times-Picayune/Nola.com: Every season, with the amount of talent on paper, I drink from the fountain of optimism. With Jamahl Mosley in the fold and a preseason in which Jordan Poole looked like he could be an asset, Zion Williamson is still in shape and Jeremiah Fears is the future leader of the franchise, I am once again all in. I think New Orleans returns to the play-in tournament. Record: 40-42

Dylan Sanders, Pelicans Roundtable: This roster is mostly the same as the one that went 26-56 last year, but it is healthier and now has Jamahl Mosley as coach. They should look more cohesive by the end of the season, but it wouldn't be surprising to see some early growing pains that make it hard to make the play-in. This team has a lot of poor habits to fix on both sides of the ball. It needs time. Record: 36-46

Chrissy Smith, The Kneaux: I think the defense is going to make a big difference in winning close games, and I think the Pelicans will make the playoffs. This roster has depth, and as long as Jamahl Mosley can find the right lineups, they will have a winning season. Record: 45-37

Jon Sokoloff, WGNO: The Pelicans are running it back with the same core from last year's group that won 26 games. While I think Jamahl Mosley's defense-first mindset will help them improve slightly from a win perspective, I don't think they did enough from a personnel standpoint to address their rim protection/rebounding issues. The West is also incredibly tough, thus making it less likely for them to make some real noise. Record: 33-49

Rod Walker, The Times-Picayune/Nola.com: One thing is for sure: The Pelicans won’t be worse than they were last season. Mosley has a good track record of winning close games. That, along with his emphasis on defense, should be enough to get them another 10 wins or so. They’re pretty healthy and have the depth to overcome injuries. I think this team is going to be a little grittier than most people think, and that toughness can go a long way. I say they squeeze into the play-in tournament as a No. 9 or 10 seed. Record: 39-43