How the New Orleans Pelicans roster will look heading into training camp after the Julian Reese pickup.
The New Orleans Pelicans had an open two-way slot with training camp coming up soon, but they filled it a few days beforehand by adding Julian Reese to the team on Thursday.
Reese makes perfect sense as the player to round out their two-way roster. He is a DMV-area player with connections to guys like Derik Queen and answers their biggest need, which is rebounding. He averaged 11.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per night over 13 NBA appearances for the Washington Wizards as a rookie.
With them adding him on a two-way deal, that currently brings their public training camp count to 22. The NBA limit for players under contract in camp is 21, so depending on the terms of these deals, they may have to let one of the Exhibit-10/non-guaranteed players go.
As of now, though, here is where the roster currently stands after the deal:
Guards
PG Jeremiah Fears
PG Dejounte Murray
Combo Guard Jordan Poole
SG AJ Johnson
SG Jaron Pierre Jr. - Two-Way Contract
G Kobe Bufkin - Training Camp
This will be a fun group to watch throughout camp. The return of a fully healthy Dejounte Murray and Jeremiah Fears entering his second season after a long few months of work. These two have had a ton of time together this offseason; now it's time to see if it pays off. If New Orleans could play the two of them on the court together, it would unlock a lot for their team.
Wings
SF/SG Trey Murphy III
SG/SF Herbert Jones Jr.
SG Bennedict Mathurin
F Saddiq Bey
SG/SF Bryce McGowens
SG/SF Caleb Houstan - Training Camp
SF/PF Christian Shumate - Training Camp
It will also be exciting to see how Mathurin fits into this group. The player this team had wanted to add for the longest time. Everyone else, at least on the main roster, is set up for the future. McGowens earned a contract last year, Bey just got an extension and both Murphy/Jones are signed for seasons to come. Mathurin has a player option for next year, but wants to earn bigger money with his performance this season.
Bigs
PF Zion Williamson
C Yves Missi
C/F Derik Queen
C Karlo Matkovic
C DeAndre Jordan
F Trendon Watford
F Julian Reese - Two-Way Contract
F Malik Dia - Two-Way Contract
C Christian Koloko - Training Camp
This position group didn't get the treatment that a lot of people wanted this offseason, in terms of going after an established center, but there is a lot of interesting talent here. Especially now with the addition of Reese, who should fit in well.
