Pelicans executive VP of basketball operations Mickey Loomis says the team is “due” for success and Rajon Rondo will provide veteran leadership, as he told New Orleans Times-Picayune columnists Jeff Duncan and Larry Holder during a radio interview. Loomis affirmed that the team was at a crossroads in terms of its development after trading for DeMarcus Cousins last season, retaining free agent point guard Jrue Holiday and reaching an agreement with Rondo. “I think we’re due and it’s time to have some success,” he said in the interview. “I think we’re all expecting that.” Though Rondo has yet to officially signed with New Orleans, Loomis said Rondo’s experience made him a good fit. “We’re talking about a veteran player that has some leadership qualities that’s been on winning teams, that understands how to win in the NBA,” Loomis said.
In other news around the Southwest Division:
- Rade Zagorac‘s contract with the Grizzlies is a three-year, $3.9MM deal, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets. The first two years and $2.3MM is guaranteed, he adds. Zagorac, the 35th overall selection in the 2016 draft, played overseas last season. The swingman was the leading scorer for KK Mega Leks in Serbia in 2016/17.
- The Mavs will continue to play hardball with restricted free agent Nerlens Noel now that his other options have fallen by the wayside, Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News opines. Noel is one of the few high-level free agents who hasn’t already signed a contract this month. Sefko doubts that Noel will take the qualifying offer of $4,187,598 and become an unrestricted free agent next summer, speculating that the two parties will eventually come to an agreement.
- Mavs first-rounder Dennis Smith Jr.has made a strong impression on some scouts with his summer-league performances, according to Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report. The point guard averaged 16.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG and 3.8 APG in his first five summer-league outings. “(Smith Jr.) has a solid feel as a young point guard,” one scout told Wasserman. Wasserman quotes eight scouts, who break down the pros and cons of Smith Jr.’s game.
What’s everyone’s take on a long time knick fan jumping ship?! Should of took Dennis Smith Jr instead of Ntitjla or however u spell his name.
Maybe they should of taken Smith or maybe they shouldn’t. This is still summer league. Take everything with a grain of salt. Knicks were not the only team pass on Smith. I think everyone got irked that Frank would be a good fit to the triangle and they just want to focus on that. There were plenty rumors out there that Dallas wanted Frank if he was still there. Let’s see some regular season games first before you decide to abandon ship.
I really believe the Knicks have made the 2 best offseason moves in the league first by dumping Phil Jackson and second by not trading KP maybe even three by not trading Carmelo for nothing
Yea man Melo’s still got another 3 solid years in him, why not take advantage of it.
Ntilikina will be better for the Knicks long-term because of his defense and size plus he can shoot. He could be like Tony Parker with a 3 ball.
Rondo great pick up.
Dennis Smith Jr will be electrifying, Cuban will put the pieces around him.
Dionis are there any rookies who won’t be all nba performers in their first 2 years?