The Pelicans have requested waivers on guard Rashad Vaughn and two-way player Mike James, per an official press release from the team. And according to Scott Kushner of The Advocate, it looks like New Orleans may use the newly acquired roster spot gained from releasing Vaughn to give the team an option to acquire another player in the upcoming buyout market.
Vaughn, who began this season with the Bucks, was acquired by the Nets in exchange for Tyler Zeller earlier this week. Then, on trade deadline day, the Nets traded him to the Pelicans in exchange for Dante Cunningham, giving New Orleans a trade exception worth $2.3MM, the value of Cunningham’s salary.
The 21-year-old former first-round pick played in only one game for the Nets and didn’t suit up for the Pelicans. In Milwaukee, he appeared in 22 games this season, averaging 2.7 PPG in only 7.9 MPG. He will become an unrestricted free agent assuming he clears waivers.
James, whose release was first reported yesterday by David Pick, asked the Pelicans to waive him so that he could return to Panathinaikos B.C. in Greece, where James helped Panathinaikos win both the Greek Cup title and the Greek Basket League championship last season.
Likely most recognized for being the first player in NBA history to have his two-way contract converted into a regular season contract, James put up respectable numbers for the Suns as a rookie earlier this season, averaging 10.4 points and 3.8 assists in 20.9 minutes per game before being waived to make room on the roster for Isaiah Canaan.
Rashad Vaughn isn’t a bad player. He’s b useful as a rotational guy. Just never got his chance in Milwaukee. Maybe the Cavs can use one of those open spots to potentially get a solid bench contributor for nothing
He was beaten out for playing time by Delly, D. Liggins, J Terry, and Sterling Brown, among others this season. Vaughn was a bust for Milwaukee.
I really don’t see the point of the Cunningham trade. If NO was just gonna waive Vaughn, then why didn’t they just waive Cunningham? They could have gotten the same roster spot. It’s not like they picked up a draft pick too. The trade exception is something, but is it really worth it?
To clear more salary under the hardcap since Vaughn makes roughly 500k less than Cunningham. Now they will have more room to go after a buyout player