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Southwest Notes: Pelicans, Meeks, Kidd, Brunson, Wood

September 17th, 2022 at 8:39am CST by Dana Gauruder

The Birmingham Squadron, the Pelicans’ NBA G League affiliate, has named T.J. Saint as its head coach and Billy Campbell as GM of Basketball Operations, according to a team press release. Recently retired guard Jodie Meeks will be an assistant coach on Saint’s staff.

Saint was the associate head coach for the Pelicans’ G League team from 2020-22. Campbell was the assistant GM for the team’s inaugural year in Birmingham last season. Meeks, who had a 10-year NBA career, announced his retirement earlier this month.

We have more from the Southwest Division:

  • Former Squadron head coach Ryan Pannone has been promoted by the Pelicans to an assistant coaching position on the NBA team, ESPN’s Andrew Lopez tweets. Former Squadron GM Marc Chasanoff will remain in a front office role with the Pelicans. The NBA team will play its preseason finale against the Hawks at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, according to Christian Clark of the New Orleans Times Picayune.
  • It may not make Mavericks owner Mark Cuban happy but head coach Jason Kidd is pleased that Jalen Brunson got a huge payday in free agency, Marc Berman of the New York Post relays. Kidd make that comment on the “All the Smoke” podcast. “The biggest thing is I’m happy he got paid,’’ Kidd said. “He helped us. I know Cuban doesn’t like this, but I love when I can get a player get paid.’’ Brunson signed a four-year, $104MM contract with the Knicks.
  • Christian Wood will need to spend a lot of time in the low block and be a physical presence at both ends of the court, Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com writes. While Wood’s 3-point shooting is a big part of his skill set, the Mavericks will also need him to be a presence in the paint. They essentially used the trade for Wood with Houston as their main free agent addition, Sefko adds.
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Javonte Smart To Sign Training Camp Deal With Pelicans

September 15th, 2022 at 5:23pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Free agent guard Javonte Smart is set to sign a training camp deal with the Pelicans, sources inform JD Shaw of Hoops Rumors (Twitter link).

After going undrafted out of LSU in 2021, the 6’4″ point guard inked two-way contracts with the Bucks and Heat during the 2021/22 season. Across 17 NBA games, the 23-year-old averaged 3.0 PPG, 1.4 RPG, and 0.9 APG across 11.8 MPG on .317/.296/.833 shooting splits.

In 25 contests with the Heat’s NBAGL affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Smart got considerably more run, averaging 21.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.6 APG, and 1.9 SPG. He also posted a shooting line of .419/.320/.754.

New Orleans currently has guards Daeqwon Plowden and John Petty signed to Exhibit 10 training camp contracts, making Smart their third addition whenever the agreement becomes official.

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And-Ones: Top Under-25 Players, Wade, EuroLeague, More

September 14th, 2022 at 10:37am CST by Luke Adams

Fifteen NBA executives polled by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype unanimously picked Mavericks star Luka Doncic as the NBA player under 25 years old whom they’d most want to build a team around. While Doncic’s selection comes as no surprise, there are some interesting picks further down Scotto’s list, which was derived from asking those 15 NBA execs to name the five players under 25 they’d most want to build around.

Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Grizzlies guard Ja Morant ranked second and third, with Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley following them at No. 4. Former first overall picks Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves) and Zion Williamson (Pelicans) came in at Nos. 5 and 6, with last season’s Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes (Raptors) rounding out the top seven. You can check out Scotto’s full story to see the other seven rising stars who received votes.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

  • After spending three years in an analyst role with the network, Dwyane Wade won’t return to TNT for the 2022/23 NBA season, reports Andrew Marchand of The New York Post. According to Marchand, TNT made an offer to retain Wade, but he decided to leave his position to focus on other business ventures.
  • Euroleague Basketball has appointed Dejan Bodiroga as its new president and Marshall Glickman as acting CEO, per a press release. They’ll replace Jordi Bertomeu, who served as president and CEO for 22 years and was a co-founder of Euroleague Basketball, which operates and oversees the EuroLeague and EuroCup, two of the world’s biggest non-NBA basketball leagues.
  • Former NBA star Baron Davis and ex-NBPA executive director Michele Roberts are among the backers of the new Fan Controlled Hoops league, which is scheduled to launch in February of 2023, as Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic outlines. The league, which will follow in the footsteps of Fan Controlled Football, will feature 4-on-4 games played on an LED floor, with fans getting the opportunity to illuminate parts of the court to create zones where players get extra points when they score.
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Izaiah Brockington Signs Two-Way Deal With Pelicans

September 12th, 2022 at 5:56pm CST by Rory Maher

5:56pm: Brockington’s two-way contract is now official, per NBA.com’s transactions log.

2:17pm: The Pelicans are signing undrafted free agent Izaiah Brockington to a two-way contract, his agent Darnell Comer tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).

According to Wojnarowski, the 23-year-old guard suffered an ACL injury prior to this year’s draft, but is hopeful of making a return at some point during the season. ESPN’s Andrew Lopez reports (via Twitter) that Brockington sustained the injury during a workout with the Pelicans, who were thinking about selecting him with one of their second-round picks and remain high on his upside.

It was reported the day after the draft that Brockington would be signing an Exhibit 10 deal with New Orleans, but that was never officially confirmed. Now he’ll be getting a pay increase on a two-way deal.

Brockington played four collegiate seasons for three teams. He started out at St. Bonaventure, spent two seasons with Penn State and finished up Iowa State. In 2021/22 with the Cyclones, Brockington averaged team-highs of 16.9 PPG and 6.8 RPG on a .447/.362/.775 shooting line.

Once Brockington officially signs, the Pelicans will have both of their two way spots filled — Dereon Seabron occupies the other.

Second-round pick E.J. Liddell, who suffered a torn ACL during Summer League, remains unsigned and doesn’t have a clear path to a roster spot — the 15-man roster has 14 players with guaranteed contracts and Jose Alvarado with a large partial guarantee as the 15th. Alvarado made a big impact as an undrafted rookie last season, so I’m sure he’ll be sticking around.

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Pelicans Sign Dereon Seabron, John Petty Jr.

September 9th, 2022 at 4:37pm CST by Rory Maher

The Pelicans have officially signed guards Dereon Seabron and John Petty Jr., the team announced in a press release.

According to Andrew Lopez of ESPN (Twitter link), Petty will receive an Exhibit 10 contract, while Seabron’s two-way contract, which was reported back in June, is now official. The Pelicans also confirmed that they have signed Daeqwon Plowden, who is on an Exhibit 10 deal.

Seabron, 22, was one of the top undrafted players following the 2022 NBA draft a few months ago. He averaged 17.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals during the 2021/22 season while leading North Carolina State in all four categories.

The 6’7″ guard was named the Most Improved Player in the ACC and was a second-team all-conference choice as a sophomore for the Wolfpack. Seabron most recently suited up for New Orleans during Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 8.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 in five games (18.6 minutes), per RealGM.

Petty, 23, went undrafted in 2021 after four years at Alabama. He signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Pelicans last fall and was waived before the season, designating him as an affiliate player for their G League team, the Birmingham Squadron.

In 31 games (26.2 minutes) for the Squadron last season, he averaged 8.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists. Like Seabron, Petty also suited up for New Orleans during Summer League, averaging 7.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals in five games (24.0 minutes), per RealGM.

The Pelicans still have one two-way slot still open after signing Seabron. Second-round pick E.J. Liddell, who unfortunately tore his ACL during Summer League, remains unsigned.

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Pelicans Sign Daeqwon Plowden To Exhibit 10 Deal

September 9th, 2022 at 2:12pm CST by Luke Adams

SEPTEMBER 9: The Pelicans have officially signed Plowden to an Exhibit 10 contract, Hoops Rumors has learned.

JULY 19: After playing for the Pelicans‘ Summer League team, undrafted rookie swingman Daeqwon Plowden will sign an Exhibit 10 contract with New Orleans, sources tell Will Guillory of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Plowden, who spent all five years of his college career at Bowling Green State, averaged 15.7 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 1.2 BPG on .414/.356/.792 shooting in 31 games (30.6 MPG) in 2021/22. The 23-year-old received All-MAC honors in each of his last three seasons and made this year’s All-MAC Defensive Team.

Plowden didn’t play a major role for New Orleans’ Summer League team in Las Vegas, averaging just 16.1 minutes per game in three appearances. But he made the most of his limited minutes, averaging 12.0 PPG on .647/.500/.909 shooting.

An Exhibit 10 deal is non-guaranteed and worth the minimum, but it could put Plowden on track to receive a $50K bonus if he’s waived before the regular season and then joins the Birmingham Squadron, New Orleans’ G League affiliate.

Plowden’s Exhibit 10 contract could also be converted into a two-way deal if he impresses in training camp. The Pels have reportedly committed one two-way slot to Dereon Seabron, but their other slot remains open for now.

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And-Ones: Expansion, Seattle, Vegas, Draft Assets, Ignite

September 7th, 2022 at 4:02pm CST by Luke Adams

Is the NBA ready to move forward on its long-rumored plans to expand to Seattle and Las Vegas? Willie G. Ramirez of The Associated Press (Twitter link) says he has heard from multiple sources that the league wants to announce expansion when those two cities hosts preseason games this fall. The Clippers will play in Seattle on September 30 and October 3, while the Lakers are set to play in Vegas on October 5 and 6.

Despite Ramirez’s report, it’s still probably premature to get excited about an impending announcement. Rumors of possible expansion have simmered off and on for years, and the NBA has repeatedly shot them down, indicating that any plans to add more teams are on the back-burner. Still, it seems increasingly likely that expansion is coming sooner or later, with Seattle and Las Vegas atop the league’s list of potential destinations.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

  • As rumors about expansion resurface, Evan Sidery of BasketballNews.com considers what an expansion draft might look like if the NBA uses the same rules it did for its last expansion draft (the Bobcats in 2004). Of course, Sidery’s hypothetical expansion draft is based on teams’ current rosters, and any expansion team is unlikely to enter the league for a few years, but it’s still an interesting exercise that shows what kinds of players might go unprotected.
  • Following the Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell blockbuster trades, the Jazz have the strongest collection of future draft picks of any NBA team, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Insider link), who ranks Utah’s draft assets slightly ahead of the Thunder‘s. The Spurs have the third-best stash of future picks, per Marks. The Pelicans, Rockets, Knicks, Magic, and Pacers round out his top eight, in that order.
  • The G League Ignite have officially announced the additions of Australian prospect Mojave King and Canadian prospect Leonard Miller, confirming the signings today in a press release. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony previously reported that King and Miller would be joining the Ignite.
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2022/23 NBA Over/Unders: Southwest Division

September 7th, 2022 at 3:03pm CST by Luke Adams

The 2022/23 NBA regular season will tip off next month, so it’s time to start getting serious about predictions for the upcoming campaign and to continue an annual Hoops Rumors tradition.

With the help of the lines from a handful of sports betting sites – including Bovada, BetOnline, and Betway – we’re running through the predicted win totals for each of the NBA’s 30 teams, by division. In a series of team-by-team polls, you’ll get the chance to weigh in on whether you think those forecasts are too optimistic or too pessimistic.

In 2021/22, our voters went 16-14 on their over/under picks. Can you top that in ’22/23?

We’ll continue our series today with the Southwest division…

Memphis Grizzlies

Dallas Mavericks

New Orleans Pelicans

  • 2021/22 record: 36-46
  • Over/under for 2022/23: 44.5 wins
  • Major offseason moves:

Houston Rockets

San Antonio Spurs

Previous voting results:

Southeast

  • Miami Heat (50.5 wins): Under (56.6%)
  • Atlanta Hawks (46.5 wins): Over (53.6%)
  • Charlotte Hornets (36.5 wins): Under (63.0%)
  • Washington Wizards (35.5 wins): Under (50.8%)
  • Orlando Magic (26.5 wins): Over (55.3%)
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Valanciunas Suffers Cramps, Not Injury, At EuroBasket

September 6th, 2022 at 9:55pm CST by Dana Gauruder
  • Pelicans center and Lithuania national team member Jonas Valanciunas created some concern after a postgame press conference at the EuroBasket tournament but it proved to be a minor ailment, Antonis Stroggylakis of Eurohoops.net reports. He limped his way to the locker room and was visibly in some pain but it turned out to be simply muscle cramps.
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Community Shootaround: Pelicans’ Ceiling

August 29th, 2022 at 9:59pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Perhaps the most significant addition any team has made this offseason didn’t involve the draft, free agency or a trade.

Zion Williamson didn’t play a single minute for the Pelicans last season due to his lingering foot issues. Williamson was signed to a max extension in early July, ending any speculation about his commitment to the organization and vice versa.

When the top pick of the 2019 draft appeared in 61 games the previous season, he put up giant numbers: 27 PPG, 7.2 RPG and 3.7 APG. From all appearances, Williamson should be ready to go when camps open late next month.

Adjustments will have to be made with Williamson returning to action but the Pelicans have the potential to lead the NBA in scoring. They have two other prolific scorers in CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram and an offensively-gifted center in Jonas Valanciunas.

Add in defensive ace Herbert Jones and some solid second unit pieces in Larry Nance Jr., Devonte’ Graham, Trey Murphy, Jaxson Hayes and lottery pick Dyson Daniels and there’s plenty of reasons for optimism among New Orleans fans. They also have a fine young coach in Willie Green, who stayed calm through a rough start last season and guided the team into the postseason.

New Orleans had only 36 victories during the regular season but fought through the play-in tournament and into the first round against Phoenix, where it put up a good fight before falling 4-2. That experience should serve the Pelicans well in future trips to the playoffs.

Certainly, the organization is on the upswing three years removed from the Anthony Davis trade.

That brings us to our question of the day: With the return of Zion Williamson this upcoming season, what is a realistic goal for the Pelicans? Do they need to upgrade in any area or do they already have the look of a serious contender?

Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.

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