The New Orleans Pelicans have exercised forward Karlo Matkovic’s $2.30 million team option for the 2026-27 season, keeping the 25-year-old under contract for a third NBA campaign. NBA insider Michael Scotto first reported the move on Thursday, one day after the conclusion of the 2026 NBA Draft.
The decision follows an encouraging sophomore season in which Matkovic established himself as a productive frontcourt reserve despite limited minutes. He appeared in 62 games, making two starts, and averaged 5.7 points and 3.7 rebounds in 14.7 minutes per contest while shooting 60.4% from the field and an impressive 42.2% from three-point range.
Those efficiency numbers stood out among New Orleans’ rotation players. Matkovic posted a 68.5% effective field goal percentage, fueled by accurate finishing inside the arc, where he converted 71.7% of his two-point attempts, while also knocking down 0.6 three-pointers per game. His ability to stretch the floor gave the Pelicans another spacing option off the bench without sacrificing size.
The Croatian forward also contributed defensively, averaging 0.9 blocks and 0.4 steals while committing just 0.5 turnovers per game. Although his role remained limited behind New Orleans’ established frontcourt, his production suggested he could handle a larger workload if needed.
The Pelicans enter the offseason looking to rebound after a disappointing 26-56 campaign that left them tied for the Western Conference’s second-worst record. Injuries and roster inconsistency prevented New Orleans from building momentum despite receiving strong offensive production from Trey Murphy III, who averaged a team-high 21.5 points per game, and Zion Williamson, who added 21.0 points while shooting 60.0% from the field.
The frontcourt remains one of the team’s deepest position groups. Rookie center Derik Queen averaged 11.7 points and 7.1 rebounds across 81 games last season, while Yves Missi contributed 5.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 66 appearances. Retaining Matkovic gives New Orleans another cost-controlled big capable of playing either power forward or center.
The franchise also continued reshaping its roster during this week’s draft. After sending its first-round selection to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a previous trade, New Orleans used the No. 58 overall pick to select SMU guard Jaron Pierre Jr., adding backcourt depth to a roster that already features Jeremiah Fears, Dejounte Murray and Jordan Poole.
