New Orleans Pelicans 2024-25 Season Preview, Betting Odds

The steady progression of the New Orleans Pelicans in the Western Conference has caught the eye of many, but a first-round exit in the playoffs did highlight some of the roster's obvious weaknesses which could keep them from entering another tier.

This 2024-25 preview will deep dive into the Pelicans' betting odds for the upcoming campaign following a summer in which some of those aforementioned issues were hopefully addressed.

New Orleans Pelicans' 2024 Offseason Acquisitions 

New Orleans Pelicans' 2024 Offseason Departures

New Orleans Pelicans' 2025 NBA Championship, Western Conference, Southwest Division Betting Odds

Odds as of October 18, 2024 at FanDuel

Getting swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder without the services of Zion Williamson can be excused due to missing such a key cog to the offense, although it was still a disappointing end to what was the franchise's strongest season in 15 years.

The Pelicans lacked a true point guard in their starting lineup, along with an interior presence who could protect the paint area, so rather than rest on their laurels, a blockbuster trade was pulled off to bring aboard a fresh face to run the offense in Dejounte Murray, while New Orleans used its only draft pick to select a natural rim protector in Yves Missi. 

Best Bet: New Orleans Pelicans To Win Southwest Division, +370

Bringing aboard Murray from the Atlanta Hawks did dip into New Orleans' second-unit depth ever so slightly, and it also cost a pair of first-round draft picks, but it's the price you pay for someone of Murray's talents. His addition seamlessly moves CJ McCollum back to where he always should have been at the two spot, while also providing a two-way player who thrives on both ends as added insurance for the inevitable Williamson hiatus. 

The Pelicans have won the Southwest Division only once and that was back in 2008, and their path to taking it in 2025 will only get harder with a healthy Memphis Grizzlies back in the fight along with another year of Victor Wembanyama on the San Antonio Spurs. They finished just a game behind the Dallas Mavericks for the crown last season, and with Murray, should only be closing the gap. 

Memphis surprisingly has better odds in this future despite having just won 27 games, which goes to show how decimated its roster just was. Playing 70 of a possible 82 games was perhaps a best-case scenario for Williamson and one he should hope to replicate moving forward as the Pelicans are so much more formidable with him suiting up. If that's indeed the case, New Orleans could snag the division and avoid having to compete in the play-in tournament, although it should once again be an incredibly-tight race in the West altogether. 

New Orleans Pelicans' 2024-25 NBA Win Total, Make Playoffs Odds

Odds as of October 18, 2024 at FanDuel

New Orleans has improved in the win column each of the last four years, with the team's 49-33 record in 2023-24 marking the franchise's best finish since the team was renamed the Pelicans in 2013 after being the Hornets the 11 years prior. 

Best Bet: OVER 45.5 Wins, -105

Recent history would suggest the Pelicans should easily break 46 wins or better as building off the prior year's success is all they've been doing as of late.

Yes, there's some cause for concern with the competition directly around them getting fiercer, especially in the Southwest, but you have to feel good about New Orleans' chances with (hopefully) another year of healthy Zion, Murray leading the charge, and the offensive firepower the likes of McCollum and Brandon Ingram possess alongside them. 

New Orleans Pelicans' 2024 NBA Cup Odds

Odds as of October 18, 2024 at FanDuel

The Pelicans took West Group A with a 3-1 record during the inaugural in-season tournament, advancing all of the way to the semifinals in Las Vegas before bowing out to the Los Angeles Lakers in a 133-89 blowout. They currently possess the fourth-best odds in West Group C for the 2024 edition and just the 17th-best odds overall.

New Orleans Pelicans' 2024-25 NBA Awards Odds

Odds as of October 18, 2024 at FanDuel

Best Bet: Willie Green For NBA Coach Of The Year, +1200

Voters usually gravitate towards head coaches who guide their teams to significant leaps in the standings, and it's hard to imagine the Pelicans making such a grand jump after just winning 49 games. With that being said, selecting Willie Green for the hardware should New Orleans once again make positive strides forward would be recognition of the work he's done since joining the organization in 2021. 

Green has led New Orleans to a 127-119 record (.516) over the course of his three years on the job, with the team's win tally improving from 36 to 42 to just recently 49 wins. The Pelicans have finished with the sixth-ranked defense each of the last two seasons, as well. 

The award has been handed out to a first-time winner two of the last three years, which bodes well for Green in this conversation. 

2024-25 NBA Team Previews, Betting Odds