The Pelicans exercised their team options on their 2027/28 contracts Jeremiah Strahi ($8.27 million), Derrick Quinn ($5.67 million) and Yves Missy ($5.6 million), Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype reports. Also, they will give up team selection AJ Johnson ($5.49 million) for the 2027/28 season, making him an unrestricted free agent after this season (Link to Twitter).
Fiers, the No. 7 pick in the 2025 draft, averaged 14.3 points and 3.4 assists in all 82 games last season, including 49 starts. He shot a disappointing 33% from 3-point range and enters the season as probably the sixth man with Dejounte Murray starting with a dot.
In 2025, Quinn was involved in a controversial draft-night trade in which the Pelicans gave up an unprotected 2026 pick to move up to No. 13 and select him. Queen showed some moments of dominance in his rookie campaign, averaging 11.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists while appearing in all but one game. He may also have to come off the bench early this season.
Messi is having a disappointing second season, averaging 5.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 19.7 minutes per game while playing in 66 contests. However, he still projects as a rotation player and potential starter in center, which made it an easier decision to option him.
Johnson was purchased from the Grizzlies last month in a four-player deal. Johnson was the 23rd overall pick in the 2024 draft, but he has played for three teams in his first two NBA seasons and hasn’t proven himself as a reliable role player. In the 2025/26 season, he averaged 3.3 ppg and 1.1 ppg at 9.5 mpg in 48 games for Washington and Dallas. He was part of a six-team deal earlier in the summer.
