Well, you can’t say New Orleans did absolutely nothing this offseason.
The Pelicans are signing 6’8″ power forward Trendon Watford to a one-year, $2.9 million minimum contract, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania. This will be the former LSU star’s sixth NBA season, bringing the Pelicans roster to a full 15 contracts.
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Watford was at the end of the rotation in Philadelphia last season, getting into 53 games and averaging 6.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per night when he did. He’s not a floor spacer, taking nearly three-quarters of his shots last season within 10 feet of the rim (but being pretty efficient on those). Watford reportedly was in talks to play next season in Spain before the Pelicans’ opportunity arrived.
Watford will struggle for minutes if the Pelicans are healthy, playing behind Zion Williamson and Derik Queen, but if either player misses time, Watford becomes a veteran reserve off the bench. Also, if the Pelicans make trades during the season — teams are still calling about Trey Murphy III — his role could expand as well.
Watford is the biggest signing this offseason for New Orleans, which says something about how quiet their offseason has been. The Pelicans hired a new coach in Jamahl Mosley, who should help the defense — just as he did in Orlando — but the Pelicans are essentially running it back with a 26-win team from a year ago that did not tank (they didn’t control their own draft pick) and was largely healthy. This team looks better on paper than on the court the past couple of seasons, can a new coach change that?
