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The New Orleans Pelicans have waived Garrett Temple.
Temple, 6-5, 195, appeared in 84 games (16 starts) over two seasons with New Orleans, averaging 4.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 15.0 minutes per contest.
Temple holds averages of 6.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 716 games over his 13-year NBA career with Houston, Sacramento, San Antonio, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Washington, Memphis, the LA Clippers, Brooklyn, Chicago, and New Orleans.
The New Orleans Pelicans yesterday signed rookie guard Jordan Hawkins.
Hawkins, 6-5, 190, averaged 16.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in his sophomore campaign at the University of Connecticut during the 2022-23 season en route to All-Big East First Team honors. Hawkins, who was drafted by the Pelicans with the 14th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, shot .388 (109-of-281) from deep and finished just six three-pointers shy of Ray Allen’s single-season school record of 115.
During the Huskies’ 2023 national title run, Hawkins averaged 16.3 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting .500 from deep and .920 from the foul stripe. Hawkins was named to the All-Tournament Team and earned Most Outstanding Player of the West Regional.
In two seasons at UConn, Hawkins averaged 11.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting .376 from deep and .872 from the foul line.
Via the New Orleans Times-Picayune:
This year, there is more uncertainty about whom the Pelicans will take in the first round. They have the 14th selection in Thursday’s draft. Earlier this week, the Pelicans came up with a list of players their front office and scouts liked. The names were in double digits. In the past few days, the Pelicans have tried to whittle that list down. They are exploring various scenarios where they trade up or down as well.
If the Pelicans stay at 14, a shooter such as Kansas’ Gradey Dick or Connecticut’s Jordan Hawkins would make sense. Choosing Dick, a 6-7 wing who nailed 40.3% of his 3s on nearly six attempts per game last season, is a no-brainer if he lasts until 14. Hawkins is more of a question mark. He is an electric shooter who can run around screens all game, but he does not have great size for a shooting guard and there are questions about how he can affect games outside of his ability to make 3s.
The Pelicans have identified outside shooting and rim protection as their two biggest needs this offseason.
Via the New Orleans Times-Picayune:
Zion Williamson was a one-man offense in his final game of the season.
In a Jan. 2 tilt against the Philadelphia 76ers, Williamson scored 26 points in 28 minutes. He took 12 shots. He made 10 of them. Despite dealing with a thicket of defenders inside, he converted 10 of 11 paint attempts.
Then in the third quarter of that game, Williamson came up limping.
The Pelicans ranked eighth in points scored per 100 possessions in the NBA at the time of Williamson’s injury. After he got hurt — a right hamstring strain that would knock him out for the remainder of the season — their offense cratered. Williamson was unable to play in the final 45 games. The Pelicans ranked 25th in points scored per 100 possessions in this stretch.
The Pelicans fell from third place to ninth place in the West without Williamson. They failed to advance out of the NBA play-in tournament, as they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the West’s Nos. 9-10 matchup.
The New Orleans Pelicans have signed guard Dereon Seabron to a two-way contract.
Seabron, 6-7, 180, appeared in five games off the bench this season with New Orleans. Originally signed to a two-way contract on September 9, Seabron appeared in 28 games (25 starts) with the Pelicans’ G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron. Seabron averaged 17.8 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in 33.3 minutes per contest.
New Orleans’ roster now stands at 17 players, including two two-way players.
New Orleans Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin announced the following update on forward Zion Williamson:
“After further evaluation, it has been determined that Zion Williamson will continue his rehabilitation and conditioning regimen. We will continue to monitor his progression and updates will be provided as warranted.”
The Pelicans are 41-39 this season, which ties them with the Lakers for the 7th best record in the Western conference.
Williamson has played in 29 games, averaging a very impressive 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists per outing. He’s a big-time star. When healthy.
The New Orleans Pelicans have waived two-way guard Dereon Seabron.
Seabron, 6-7, 180, appeared in five games off the bench this season with New Orleans. Originally signed to a two-way contract on September 9, Seabron appeared in 28 games (25 starts) with the Pelicans’ G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, averaging 17.8 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in 33.3 minutes per contest.
New Orleans’ roster now stands at 16 players, including one two-way player.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram has been named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for games played March 20-26.
Ingram led New Orleans to a 3-0 week, recording averages of 31.3 points, 10.0 assists, and 6.3 rebounds in 33.0 minutes per game, while shooting .525 from the field, .462 from deep, and 1.000 from the foul stripe. Among Western Conference players with winning records on the week, Ingram ranked first in points and assists per contest.
Via the Los Angeles Times:
The Clippers need a strong regular-season finale if they want to avoid the play-in tournament or keep home-court advantage for a first-round series.
With beginnings like the one on Saturday, that will be more challenging to accomplish.
The Clippers were defeated by the New Orleans Pelicans in the opening five minutes of the first quarter by a score of nine.
An 11-point hole had widened to a 19-point margin two minutes into the second quarter.
The third quarter had hardly begun when their 12-point deficit had grown to 18.
The Clippers would eventually lose 131-110, and the second half’s focus shifted to what was happening off the court because the suspense had all but been taken out of the game. Four minutes remained in the third quarter when Clippers star Kawhi Leonard was elbowed in the face by Pelicans wing Brandon Ingram. Team executives promptly got up from their seats to pursue Him down the arena tunnel.
The New Orleans Pelicans announced today the following medical updates:
Recent medical imaging on Jose Alvarado, who has missed the last 10 games due to a stress reaction in his right tibia, showed incremental improvement. He will continue his rehabilitation process and will be re-examined in 2-3 weeks.
Following re-evaluation on his right hamstring strain, Zion Williamson has been cleared to return to on-court activities. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Via the Times-Picayune:
Williamson has played in 29 games this season. He is averaging 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He was named an All-Star but was unable to play in the game because of injury.
The Pelicans had a 23-13 record before Williamson got hurt in the team’s first game of 2023. They have gone 12-24 in the new year, which is the third-worst record in the Western Conference during that time.
New Orleans has struggled to score without Williamson. It ranks 26th in points scored per 100 possessions since Williamson got hurt.