Category: New Orleans Pelicans Blog

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Pelicans sign Feron Hunt, and void Anthony Tolliver’s contract

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed forward Feron Hunt to a 10-day contract, via the COVID hardship exception.

In a related move, the Pelicans voided the contract of Anthony Tolliver, who was just signed a day ago but has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.

Hunt, 6-8, 195, has appeared in 12 contests (eight starts) this season with the Texas Legends of the NBA G League, averaging 15.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 2.1 steals in 32.9 minutes per game.

Hunt appeared in 78 career games (41 starts) during three seasons at Southern Methodist University (2018-21), averaging 9.6 points and 6.8 rebounds in 26.3 minutes per game. In his 2020-21 campaign, he averaged 11.1 points, 7.9 rebounds (3rd in AAC), 2.1 offensive rebounds (6th in AAC), and 5.9 defensive boards (2nd in AAC). Hunt shot .560 from the floor (4th in AAC) and earned All-AAC Third-Team Honors.

Hunt will wear #44 with the Pelicans.

New Orleans’s roster now stands at 20 players, including two two-way players.

Pelicans sign Anthony Tolliver and Justin James to 10-day contracts

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed forwards Anthony Tolliver and Justin James to 10-day contracts, via the COVID hardship exception.

Tolliver, 6-8, 240, holds career averages of 6.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in 730 career regular season games (105 starts) over 13 NBA seasons with San Antonio, Portland, Golden State, Minnesota, Atlanta, Charlotte, Phoenix, Detroit, Sacramento, Memphis, and Philadelphia.

Undrafted in the 2007 NBA Draft following a four-year collegiate career at Creighton, Tolliver began his professional career with Cleveland during the 2007-08 preseason. In addition to his time in the NBA and NBA G League, Tolliver has played professionally in Germany and Turkey. As a senior at Creighton, he captured First Team All-MVC honors, averaging 13.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.7 blocks in 31.6 minutes per contest. Tolliver helped lead the Bluejays to a 22-11 record and an appearance in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

James, 6-7, 190, appeared in 72 games with Sacramento over the past two seasons, averaging 3.2 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 7.5 minutes per contest. James most recently appeared in the G League with the Cleveland Charge, averaging 17.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 14 games this season.

Drafted 40th overall by Sacramento in the 2019 NBA Draft out of the University of Wyoming, James averaged 22.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 38.2 minutes per game in 32 starts during his senior season in 2018-19. James totaled the second most points in a single season in program history (706) and led the Mountain West Conference in points per game, ranking his scoring average 19th in the nation. James earned All-Mountain West First Team honors as selected by the media and was chosen by the coaches to the All-Mountain West Second Team. James finished third in career points (2,061) in Wyoming Men’s Basketball history and fourth in career points in Mountain West Conference history.

Tolliver will wear #43 and James will wear #21 for the Pelicans. New Orleans’ roster now stands at 20 players.

Pelicans sign Jared Harper, waive Daulton Hommes

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed guard Jared Harper from the team’s G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, to a two-way contract.

And in a related move, the Pelicans waived two-way player Daulton Hommes.

Harper, 6-0, 175, becomes the first Squadron player to receive a GATORADE Call-Up. In 14 games for the Squadron this season, Harper averaged 21.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 32.7 minutes per game. The Atlanta, Ga., native has appeared in 11 NBA contests with New York and Phoenix over the last two seasons.

Harper previously played in the G League with the Northern Arizona Suns and Westchester Knicks, holding career G League averages of 20.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.1 steals in 60 contests.

Harper appeared in 106 career games (104 starts) in three seasons at Auburn (2016-19), averaging 13.5 points and 4.8 assists while shooting .384 in 29.5 minutes per game. The two-time All-SEC Second Team selection led the Tigers to the school’s first-ever Final Four appearance in 2018-19 and ranks fifth in Auburn school history with 511 assists.

Harper will wear #2 for the Pelicans.

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson receives injection to stimulate bone healing in foot

Following a consultation and further evaluation with Dr. Richard Ferkel of the Southern California Orthopedic Institute yesterday, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson received a biologic injection into the fracture site to stimulate bone healing in his right foot.

Williamson will be limited to low impact, partial weight-bearing activities for an extended period.

Further updates will be given following further imaging which is anticipated to occur in 4-6 weeks.

Williamson has not played yet in the 2021-22 NBA season.

Medical update: Zion Williamson remains out with foot injury

The New Orleans Pelicans released the following medical update on Zion Williamson:

“After experiencing persistent soreness in his right foot, Zion Williamson underwent medical imaging which showed a regression in the bone healing of his fifth metatarsal. As a result, the volume and intensity of his training will be reduced for an extended period to help allow for further bone healing.

Brandon Ingram scores 40 in Pelicans loss to Rockets

The Pelicans keep racking up losses, but they enjoyed a nice performance from Brandon Ingram Sunday. Via the New Orleans Times-Picayune:

As the third quarter neared an end, Brandon Ingram drove to the basket and absorbed contact. He earned a trip to the free-throw line, where he scored his 32nd and 33rd points of the game.

Ingram scored a season-high 40 points, but on the second leg of New Orleans’ Texas two step, he received little help.

Ingram converted 15 of 28 field goals. His teammates combined to go 25 of 66.

The Pelicans lost to the Houston Rockets 118-108 on Sunday at Toyota Center.

They were unable to keep the positive momentum from their win over the Dallas Mavericks two nights earlier going, as they fell to the Rockets, one of the few teams that came into Sunday’s game below New Orleans (7-19) in the Western Conference standings.

Pelicans sign forward Gary Clark

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed forward Gary Clark.

Clark, 6-6, 225, has appeared in 132 NBA contests (18 starts) with Houston, Orlando, Denver, and Philadelphia, averaging 3.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per game.

The Smithfield, NC., native most recently played for the NBA G League’s Mexico City Capitanes, appearing in eight games (four starts) and averaging 14.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 31.3 minutes per contest. Clark is the first player in Capitanes history to receive an NBA Call Up and becomes the third G League player this season to earn a promotion. Clark previously played in the G League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, and holds career G League averages of 14.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 steals in 19 contests.

Clark appeared in 139 career games (137 starts) during four seasons at the University of Cincinnati (2014-18), averaging 10.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals in 28.8 minutes per game, while shooting .525 from the floor and .383 from three-point range. In his 2017-18 senior campaign, he averaged 12.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks in 28.5 minutes per game. Clark was named the 2017-18 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and was a two-time American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year (2016-17, 2017-18).

Clark will wear #12 with the Pelicans. New Orleans’s roster now stands at 18 players, including two two-way players.

Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas goes three-point crazy in win over Clippers

Jonas Valanciunas went insane from three-point range yesterday. Via ESPN.com:

Jonas Valanciunas wasn’t exactly a marksman when he entered the NBA in 2012. In fact, in his first five seasons in the league, he went 1-of-4 from 3-point range.

But those days are long gone.

Valanciunas hit his first seven 3-pointers on Monday night — all in the first half — as he helped lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 123-104 win over the LA Clippers.

The 6-foot-11, 265-pound bruiser has slowly started to add the three-point shot to his game since 2017, but he’s never had a night like Tuesday when he scored a career-high 39 points to go along with 15 rebounds.

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson cleared to participate in full team activities

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has been cleared to participate in full team activities. Williamson, who underwent imaging on his fractured right foot on Wednesday (Nov. 24), was medically cleared by Dr. Richard Ferkel of Southern California Orthopedic Institute and Dr. Scott Montgomery of Ochsner Health.

Williamson played 4-on-4 full court today and will continue his progression towards returning to play. An estimated date to return to game action has not been determined.

Pelicans guard DiDi Louzada suspended 25 games by NBA

New Orleans Pelicans guard DiDi Louzada has been suspended without pay for twenty-five games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program by testing positive for Drostanolone and Testosterone, it was announced today by the NBA.

Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin: “On behalf of the New Orleans Pelicans organization, we were disappointed to learn that Didi Louzada violated the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program. After speaking with Didi, we are confident that he understands the full gravity of the situation and regrets the decisions that led to the suspension. We fully support Didi on and off the court as he learns and grows from this experience.”

And per a statement that was sent to ESPN.com: “When I was in Brazil during the offseason, I consulted a nutritionist who recommended I take some vitamins and supplements,” Louzada said… “Because she has a history of working with professional athletes, I would never have imagined that any of those substances would be banned or could be contaminated. Once I learned of the positive test, I immediately cooperated completely with the league and union to help all of us understand what exactly occurred… I would never knowingly take anything that violates NBA rules. I accept my responsibility in this situation. I deeply regret that this happened and I apologize to my team, my teammates, and Pelicans fans for this mistake.”

Louzada’s suspension will begin with tonight’s game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.