Category: New Orleans Pelicans Blog

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Pelicans transfer two-way player Dereon Seabron to G League

The New Orleans Pelicans have transferred two-way guard Dereon Seabron to the team’s G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron.

Seabron, 6-7, 180, played two collegiate seasons at North Carolina State, where he averaged 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 56 games. Seabron is coming off of a redshirt sophomore season in which he started 32 games, averaging 17.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists en route to being named the ACC’s Most Improved Player and earning All-ACC Second Team honors.

Seabron appeared in five preseason games for the Pelicans this season, averaging 4.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 7.3 minutes per contest.

The Squadron will host the Lakeland Magic at Legacy Arena in their season opener on Sunday, November 6 at 5:00 p.m. CST.

Pelicans sign E.J. Liddell to two-way contract

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed forward E.J. Liddell to a two-way contract.

Liddell, 6-6, 240, who was selected by New Orleans with the 41st overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft out of The Ohio State University, averaged 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.6 blocks per game last season en route to consensus third team All-American, first team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Defensive honors. Liddell led the Buckeyes in scoring, rebounding, blocks, free throws made and attempted and was second in assists.

New Orleans’ roster now stands at 17 players, including two two-way players.

Pelicans waive Zylan Cheatham, Kelan Martin, Daeqwon Plowden and Javonte Smart

The New Orleans Pelicans have waived Zylan Cheatham, Kelan Martin, Daeqwon Plowden, and Javonte Smart.

Cheatham, 6-5, 220, averaged 1.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in four preseason games with New Orleans. Cheatham has appeared in five NBA games with New Orleans and Utah, holding averages of 2.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.6 assists.

Martin, 6-5, 230, averaged 1.0 point and 1.5 rebounds in two preseason games with New Orleans. Martin holds career averages of 5.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 96 NBA games with Minnesota, Indiana and Boston.

Plowden, 6-6, 215, averaged 4.0 points and 1.6 rebounds in five preseason games with New Orleans. Plowden most recently played five seasons at Bowling Green State (2017-22), averaging 10.5 points and 6.1 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per contest.

Smart, 6-4, 205, tallied two rebounds and one assist in two preseason games with New Orleans. Smart appeared in 17 games with Milwaukee and Miami during the 2021-22 season, averaging 3.0 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists

New Orleans’ roster now stands at 16 players, including one two-way player.

Pelicans sign Kelan Martin and Javonte Smart, waive John Butler and guard John Petty Jr.

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed forward Kelan Martin and guard Javonte Smart.

And in a related move, the Pelicans have waived two-way forward John Butler and guard John Petty Jr.

Martin, 6-5, 230, has appeared in 96 NBA games since 2019 with Minnesota, Indiana and Boston, holding averages of 5.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists. Martin appeared in 30 games (one start) last season with Boston and Indiana, averaging 5.7 points, 0.7 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 15.0 minutes per contest. Martin played collegiately at Butler, where he averaged 15.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists across four seasons.

Smart, 6-4, 205, appeared in 17 games with Milwaukee and Miami during the 2021-22 season, averaging 3.0 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists. Undrafted in 2021, the Baton Rouge native played three seasons at LSU where he averaged 13.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 93 games.

Butler, 7-2, 174, played one collegiate season at Florida State (2021-22), where he averaged 5.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 31 games. In the 2022 NBA 2K Summer League, Butler appeared in four games (two starts) for the Pelicans, averaging 8.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks while shooting 12-of-16 (.750) from the floor and 6-of-9 (.667) from three-point range. Butler appeared in one game with the Pelicans in the 2022 preseason, tallying one rebound, one assist and three blocks.

Petty Jr., 6-5, 184, appeared in 31 games for the Pelicans’ G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, in 2021-22 in which he averaged 8.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 26.2 minutes per game. Petty appeared in two games with the Pelicans in the 2022 preseason, averaging 1.0 rebound, 0.5 assists and 0.5 steals.

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

Pelicans convert John Butler’s contract into a two-way contract

The New Orleans Pelicans have converted the contract of forward John Butler to a two-way contract.

Butler, 7-2, 174, played one collegiate season at Florida State, where he averaged 5.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 31 games. During his freshman campaign, Butler led the Seminoles with 33 three-point shots made as he became the first true freshman in school history to lead Florida State in three-pointers made and three-point field goal percentage (.393).

In the 2022 NBA 2K Summer League, Butler appeared in four games (two starts) for the Pelicans, averaging 8.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks while shooting 12-of-16 (.750) from the floor and 6-of-9 (.667) from three-point range.

New Orleans Pelicans sign Larry Nance Jr. to contract extension

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed forward Larry Nance Jr. to a multi-year contract extension.

Per the New Orleans Times-Picayune a few days ago, “Nance, who was already owed $9.7 million this season, will sign a two-year extension with New Orleans worth $21.6 million. His deal contains no team or player options, a league source said.”

Nance Jr., 6-7, 245, who was acquired by New Orleans in a mid-season trade with the Portland Trail Blazers, appeared in 46 games (11 starts) during the 2021-22 season, averaging 7.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.9 steals in 22.6 minutes per game. In nine games with New Orleans, Nance Jr. averaged 7.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 20.2 minutes per game while shooting .551 from the floor and .500 from deep. In the Pelicans’ first round playoff series with Phoenix, Nance Jr. appeared in all six games and averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 21.7 minutes per contest.

Per the Times-Picayune, “Nance, once he was fully healed from right knee surgery, gave the Pelicans important minutes as a backup big man upon returning to the lineup in late March.”

Drafted 27th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2015 NBA Draft, the seven-year veteran has appeared in 396 games (134 starts) with the L.A. Lakers, Cleveland, Portland and New Orleans, posting career averages of 8.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals in 24.1 minutes, while converting .529 from the field, .333 from behind the arc and .689 from the free throw line. Nance has also appeared in 26 postseason games for Cleveland and New Orleans, averaging 5.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 16.8 minutes per contest.

Pelicans sign CJ McCollum to contract extension

The New Orleans Pelicans and guard CJ McCollum have agreed to a multi-year contract extension, the team announced today.

Per The Advocate, “the Pelicans are signing McCollum to a two-year, $64 million extension, which will keep him under contract through the 2025-26 season. McCollum already was owed $33.3 million in 2022-23 and $35.8 million in 2023-24. Tacking on two years to his deal ensures that McCollum, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson are all under contract with the Pelicans for the next three seasons.”

McCollum, 6-3, 190, who was acquired by New Orleans in a mid-season trade with the Portland Trail Blazers, appeared in 62 games (all starts) during the 2021-22 season, averaging 22.1 points, 5.1 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 34.6 minutes per game. In 26 games as a Pelican, McCollum averaged 24.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.3 steals in 33.8 minutes per game while shooting .493 from the floor and .394 from deep. In the Pelicans’ first round playoff series with Phoenix, McCollum started all six games and averaged 22.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 39.0 minutes per game.

The nine-year veteran has appeared in 590 games (493 starts) with Portland and New Orleans, averaging 19.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.9 steals in 31.6 minutes, while shooting .455 from the floor, .396 from three-point range and .810 from the free throw stripe. McCollum has also appeared in 63 games (53 starts) over nine postseasons with Portland and New Orleans. He holds playoff averages of 20.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 0.8 steals in 35.4 minutes per game, while shooting .434 from the floor, .377 from beyond the arc and .763 from the free throw line.

Pelicans sign John Butler and Zylan Cheatham, waive Izaiah Brockington

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed forwards John Butler and Zylan Cheatham.

The signings are likely just for training camp.

And in a related move, the Pelicans have waived two-way guard Izaiah Brockington.

Butler, 7-2, 174, played one collegiate season at Florida State, where he averaged 5.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 31 games. During his rookie campaign, Butler led the Seminoles with 33 three-point shots made as he became the first true freshman in school history to lead Florida State in three-point shots made and three-point field goal shooting percentage (.393). In the 2022 NBA 2K Summer League, Butler appeared in four games (two starts) for the Pelicans, averaging 8.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks while shooting 12-of-16 (.750) from the floor and 6-of-9 (.667) from three-point range.

Cheatham, 6-5, 220, most recently played professionally for the Utah Jazz, appearing in one game. During the 2021-22 NBA season, Cheatham played in four games for New Orleans, averaging 3.0 points, 0.8 assists and 2.3 rebounds in 12.8 minutes per contest while shooting .667 from the floor. During the 2022 NBA 2K Summer League, Cheatham played five games with the Milwaukee Bucks posting averages of 6.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.8 steals.

Brockington, 6-4, 196, most recently played collegiately for Iowa State University, earning All-Big 12 First Team honors in 2022 after averaging 16.9 points and 6.8 rebounds, to go along with 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals. Over his four-year collegiate career, Brockington appeared in 125 games for St. Bonaventure, Penn State and Iowa State, averaging 10.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

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

New Orleans Pelicans announce basketball operations and coaching staff promotions and additions

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today basketball operations and coaching staff promotions and additions ahead of the 2022-23 season.

Sammy Gelfand has been hired as senior director of basketball analytics. Former Birmingham Squadron head coach Ryan Pannone has been added to the Pelicans’ coaching staff as an assistant coach. Jordan Kincaide has been added to the training staff as assistant strength and conditioning coach.

Additionally, Ryan Frazier has been promoted to assistant coach. Corey Brewer and Darnell Lazare have been elevated to assistant coach/player development coach. Brandon Demas has been promoted to two-way coach. Jordan McGuire has been promoted to player development assistant/assistant shooting coach. D’Or Fischer has been elevated to player development assistant.