New Orleans Pelicans Make First Cut of Training Camp in Center Christian Koloko

The first cut of training camp for the New Orleans Pelicans is not too shocking, as they have released center Christian Koloko, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. 

Koloko was signed to a training camp deal back in July. Back then, it seemed like he could be fighting for a two-way spot with just one season left of eligibility at that level, but the Pelicans filled those spots with some younger options, leaving the main roster as the only path to playing time.

The 26-year-old was a former second-round pick by the Toronto Raptors. The hope was to develop his raw athleticism into a defensive weapon down low, but that development never really led to sustainable NBA play.

Over three seasons, Koloko has averaged 2.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks on 12.3 minutes per game. He has hopped around a few different teams, with the Pelicans being his fifth squad since being drafted.

As much effort as he could bring to the defensive side, the offense really held him back. Those 2.8 points have come from a 49.3% field goal rate. He had started to try to add the three-point shot late last season, but it didn't look sustainable.

Overall, it made a lot of sense for New Orleans to bring him in as someone who could at least compete on defense. Take a shot on a raw athlete and see if this coaching staff could find something. It had just become clear that Koloko wasn't going to be retained. He was a DNP in the first preseason game and played just four minutes in the second one.

The Pelicans didn't add a ton to their front court this past offseason on the actual roster, but they like what they have on the two-way squad in Malik Dia and Julian Reese.

Reese, like his sister Angel, is a fantastic rebounder. He hasn't offered much on offense either, but he has done the small things well. It is a lot of stuff that this coaching staff has been emphasizing. Should they need someone to fill in some unexpected minutes in the front court, he could be trusted enough.

Dia is more raw, but is another high-effort player. The undrafted free agent has embraced the experience so far and is also ready to do all the work needed to stick around. He has the ability to shoot, which is nice, but should bring toughness on defense and more rebounding.