New Orleans Pelicans Blog – Page 29 – NBA Blog

Pelicans sign Langston Galloway, Solomon Hill, E`Twaun Moore

The Pelicans have signed unrestricted free agents Langston Galloway, Solomon Hill and E’Twaun Moore.

“Today is an exciting day for the Pelicans,” said Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Dell Demps. “We entered the free agency period determined to add high character, talented, defensive-minded, gritty yet smart players that compete and play hard. We are headed in the right direction with the signings of Langston Galloway, Solomon Hill and E’Twaun Moore.”

Demps added, “These guys are two-way players that have been on our radar for quite some time. We wanted to stick with the theme of adding young veterans that can enhance our program while growing with our team. We are thrilled to welcome Langston, Solomon, E’Twaun and their families to the Pelicans’ family.”

Galloway, 6-2, 200, most recently played for the New York Knicks, appearing in all 82 games during the 2015-16 season, averaging 7.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Undrafted out of Saint Joseph’s, Galloway began his professional career with the Westchester Knicks of the NBA Development League, before signing with New York on January 5, 2015. The Baton Rouge native appeared in 45 games for the Knicks during his rookie campaign, averaging 11.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals on his way to being named to the 2015 NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In 127 career regular season games, Galloway holds averages of 9.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steals in 27.5 minutes per game.

Hill, 6-7, 225, has spent his entire professional career with the Indiana Pacers after being selected 23rd overall in the 2013 NBA Draft out of the University of Arizona. In 169 career regular season games with the Pacers, Hill has averaged 6.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 20.6 minutes per contest. His best statistical season came in 2014-15, when Hill appeared in all 82 games (78 starts), averaging 8.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

Moore, 6-4, 191, most recently played for the Chicago Bulls, averaging 7.5 points on .481 shooting from the field, including .452 from three-point range, 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 59 games during the 2015-16 season. Selected by the Boston Celtics with the 55th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft following a four-year collegiate career at Purdue University, Moore has appeared in 307 career regular season games with Boston, Orlando and Chicago, while averaging 5.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 17.2 minutes per game.

Pelicans waive Toney Douglas

The New Orleans Pelicans today announced that the team has waived guard Toney Douglas.

Douglas, 6-2, 185, appeared in 61 games (18 starts) for the Pelicans during the 2015-16 season, holding averages of 8.7 points, 2.6 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals. Originally signed by New Orleans on February 4, 2015, Douglas appeared in 73 total games for the Pelicans, averaging 8.0 points, 2.5 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 19.7 minutes per contest.

Originally drafted 29th overall out of Florida State University in 2009 by the Los Angeles Lakers, Douglas has appeared in 370 career regular season games with New York, Houston, Sacramento, Golden State, Miami and New Orleans, averaging 7.8 points, 2.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game.

Pelicans trade Luke Babbitt to Heat

The Miami Heat announced today that they have acquired Luke Babbitt from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for New Orleans’ own 2018 second-round draft pick, that Miami acquired in the Feb. 18, 2016 trade involving Jarnell Stokes, and cash considerations.

Babbitt, a 6’9”, 225-pound forward, has appeared in 263 NBA regular season games (38 starts) during his six-year career and has averaged 4.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 13.5 minutes while connecting on 40.7 percent from the floor, 40.3 percent from behind the three-point arc and 74.4 percent from the foul line. In three of his six NBA seasons, Babbitt has hit at least 40 percent of his three-point field goal attempts. He has yet to appear in an NBA postseason game.

Last season as a member of the Pelicans, Babbitt appeared in 47 games (13 starts) and averaged 7.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 18.0 minutes while shooting 42.2 percent from the floor, 40.3 percent from three-point range and 74.4 percent from the line. The 16th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Babbitt set single-season career highs during the 2015-16 campaign in points (327), field goals made (122) and attempted (289), free throws made (39) and attempted (50), offensive rebounds (25), defensive rebounds (123), total rebounds (148) and assists (53).

In addition to playing for the Pelicans (2013-16), Babbitt played three seasons (2010-13) with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Pelicans hire Danny Ferry as a Special Advisor

The New Orleans Pelicans have hired Danny Ferry as a Special Advisor, team General Manager Dell Demps announced.

Ferry comes to New Orleans with 25 years of NBA experience as both a player and front office executive. He served as the President of Basketball Operations and General Manager for the Atlanta Hawks from 2012-15, where he oversaw the team’s basketball operations, including coaching, player personnel, contract negotiations and salary cap management.

“I am excited to announce Danny Ferry has accepted our offer to join the New Orleans Pelicans basketball operations staff as a special advisor,” said Demps. “Danny’s experience, insight and achievements will be a welcomed addition to the Pelicans as we continue our quest to improve the team.”

Prior to the Hawks, Ferry was a member of the San Antonio Spurs organization from 2010-12, where he held the role of Vice President of Basketball Operations. From 2005-10, Ferry served as the General Manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Under his guidance, the Cavaliers posted a 272-138 (.663) record, experienced the NBA’s best regular season record in both 2008-09 and 2009-10 and advanced to the 2007 NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.

Pelicans guard Bryce Dejean-Jones shot to death in Dallas

Tragedy has struck the New Orleans Pelicans and the league. Here’s the New Orleans Times-Picayune reporting:

New Orleans Pelicans player Bryce Dejean-Jones was shot to death in Dallas after he mistakenly entered the wrong apartment, his agent told CNN on Saturday (May 28).

Scott Nichols told the news network that Dejean-Jones was in Dallas to visit his girlfriend for his daughter’s first birthday.

Dejean-Jones was fatally shot after breaking down the door to a Dallas apartment, authorities said Saturday.

A man living at the apartment was sleeping when he heard his front door kicked open, Dallas Police Senior Cpl. DeMarquis Black said in a statement. When Dejean-Jones began kicking at the bedroom door, the man retrieved a handgun and fired.

Jrue Holiday has surgery for orbital wall fracture

$Jrue Holiday undergoes surgery for orbital wall fracture$

The New Orleans Pelicans today announced that guard Jrue Holiday underwent successful surgery to repair an orbital wall fracture on his right eye. The timetable for his return is 6-8 weeks. Holiday is expected to make a full recovery prior to the 2016-17 season.

Holiday (6-4, 205) appeared in 65 games (23 starts) this season while averaging 16.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.4 steals. The UCLA product has appeared in 437 games (370 starts) and holds career averages of 14.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.5 steals.

Pelicans sign James Ennis for rest of season

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed forward James Ennis for the remainder of the 2015-16 season, which ends on Wednesday.

The 6-7, 201-pound player was initially signed by the Pelicans on March 30. In six games, Ennis has averaged 11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals per outing.

Prior to joining the Pelicans, Ennis most recently played for the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League, appearing in 24 games this season, averaging 18.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 steals in 33.3 minutes per contest.

Security shakeup at Pelicans arena

Here’s the New Orleans Times Picayune with an update on the Pelicans’ arena security situation, which received a slight wakeup call recently as a young kid was able to wander onto the court, hug a player and return to his seat:

An usher lost her job and a New Orleans police officer will no longer be hired by SMG to work security details for Pelicans games because of a breakdown that enabled a young boy to run onto the court to hug New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony during a game last week at the Smoothie King Center.

Superdome/Smoothie King Center general manager Alan Freeman said the retractable tensile or crowd control barrier was not in place and the usher who should have been watching the aisle was not in place either.

”Then, there is a police officer stationed in that general area also, and he was not doing his job,” Freeman said. ”So essentially what happened there is that you get two people who were not doing their responsibilities and that led to a black eye for us as the building operator.

”So what we have done since then is first of all, we obviously replaced those two people who failed to do their jobs – the usher and the police officer.”

Carmelo Anthony speaks about kid running onto court to hug him

Carmelo Anthony gave a perfect response here, but what happened in New Orleans is definitely a security issue that needs to be addressed. Per the New York Daily News:

Carmelo Anthony gives good response to kid running onto court to hug him

A day later, Carmelo Anthony was still grateful for the hug and any concerns of a security breach were alleviated by the trespasser’s age.

“That’s probably a once in a lifetime opportunity for somebody to run up to you and give you a hug,” he said. “Especially if it’s a kid. That’s the way I look at it.”

A boy who looked about 10 years old darted on the court at the Smoothie King Center near the end of the Knicks loss Sunday to the Pelicans, making a bee line for Anthony at the top of the key wheere he gave the All-Star forward a quick hug. The boy then ran off the court and was never approached by security, raising concerns about the staff at the Smoothie King Center.

Pelicans announce injuries to Ryan Anderson, Norris Cole, Alonzo Gee, Jrue Holiday

The New Orleans Pelicans are racking up injuries this season, not wins.

The team announced today medical updates for forward Ryan Anderson, guard Norris Cole, forward Alonzo Gee and guard Jrue Holiday.

Anderson (6-10, 240) has been diagnosed with a sports hernia. He will seek a second opinion from a specialist in Philadelphia later this week. Additional details will be announced appropriately following further evaluation. Anderson has appeared in 66 games (seven starts), holding averages of 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists per contest.

Cole (6-2, 175) is experiencing lower back discomfort and is listed as day-to-day. The Cleveland State product has appeared in 45 games (23 starts), averaging 10.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.

Gee (6-6, 225) suffered a complete rupture of the right proximal rectus femoris and will miss the remainder of the 2015-16 season. The injury occurred during the second quarter of last night’s game against the New York Knicks. Gee holds season averages of 4.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists in 0.9 steals in 73 contests (38 starts).

Holiday (6-4, 205) has been diagnosed with a right inferior orbital wall fracture. He will miss the remainder of the 2015-16 season. The injury occurred with 56.1 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of last night’s game against the New York Knicks. The UCLA product has appeared in 65 games (23 starts) while averaging 16.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.4 steals.