Pelicans rookie forward E.J. Liddell has undergone surgery to reconstruct the torn ACL in his right knee, the team announced in a press release. The surgery was performed Monday by Dr. Scott Montgomery and Liddell remains out indefinitely.
Liddell, a second-round pick out of Ohio State, suffered the injury during a Vegas Summer League contest.
The former Ohio State forward averaged 19.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.5 APG, and 2.6 BPG over 33.2 MPG last season and was projected as a first-round pick. He remains unsigned and the Pelicans don’t currently have an opening on the 15-man roster, though they have a two-way slot available.
We have more from the Western Conference:
- Why did the Nuggets choose DeAndre Jordan as a backup big rather than re-signing DeMarcus Cousins? According to Harrison Wind of TheDNVR.com, there were concerns about Cousins staying healthy for a full season. He battled calf and foot injuries after signing with Denver last season. The Nuggets also wanted more rim protection at backup center and a lob threat for Denver’s current group of guards.
- Nathan Knight‘s two-year, minimum-salary contract with the Timberwolves includes a $350K partial guarantee in year one and a $380,718 partial guarantee and team option in year two, Hoops Rumors has learned. Knight, who was on a two-way deal with Minnesota last season, signed a standard contract over the weekend. The 6’10” forward appeared in 37 NBA games last season.
- New Jazz coach Will Hardy has spent a lot of his time this month getting acquainted with the players on the current roster, he told Tony Jones of The Athletic. “The conversations with the players, they have been great,” the former Celtics assistant said. “I’ve talked to all of our guys, and some in person. My expectation is to get to know each other as people before we get to know each other as co-workers. I want us to create and develop trust with each other. We want an environment of honesty with each other.”
Not sure if Jordan is a lob threat any more
Is Liddell not getting a contract then? Tough one for the kid..
I’d wager he ends up going the Chuma Okeke route and signs with the Birmingham Squadron
New Orleans literally (technically) owes Liddell absolutely nothing.
I know what the intention was, but in hindsight (obviously) it was a bad move by his agent to have him play in the summer league unsigned and attempt to earn a standard contract rather than a two-way deal.
I would guess Griff will still do all he can for the young man financially and have the Pelican medical staff handle his rehabilitation.
Such a tough situation. Good Luck!
DeAndre is also good for the locker room. Heard he is really funny and gets on well with everyone. Solid guy you want playing 13 minutes per night and no more but great for off the court.
If DeAndre Jordan is on the floor for your team for 13 minutes per night …. Your team is not very good! He’s is completely washed and has been for at least 3 years, and teams keep signing him, and getting absolutely nothing. Nobody in the NBA cares about a locker room guy. Vets have families. The young guys ain’t listening and don’t care about a dude who is now a very bad NBA player.
Tell that to Udonis Haslem
Udonis has stayed with the same team with no expectations of contributing on the court like DeAndre is expected to.
Exactly what “young” guy is Udonis Haslem mentoring???? What “young” guy plays a significant role on Miami that Udonis has taken under his wing?? Udonis is well-liked on a Miami team filled with veteran players. The culture that exists within the Miami organization allows them to find enough value with Udonis to keep him around. That situation doesn’t exist on any other roster. Let alone on a Denver roster where Jordan is the “new” guy.
I’ve really like Coach Hardy’s approach with the team. He’s in a tough spot not knowing who will still be here in September. It’s good that he’s getting a feel for what the current culture is now and what it needs going forward. He’s seen what works and what’s only decent.
Should be interesting to see him operate going forward, with whatever team is here for training camp. He’s a smart guy with a very bright future.
Why is he wasting his time getting to know all the guys personally??? Utah is in a rebuild. The majority of these guys will not be on the roster in a couple of months. All the team building and other mumbo jumbo doesn’t do anything but get you bounced in the NBA. He can be the greatest guy in the world, and his whole team can love him. Without talent, he is not gonna win and will get fired. Utah has NO ability to attract free agents. They are in for a very long rebuild.
I see you need a refresher about Utah Jazz history…
They were saying the same thing you’re saying after Stockton retired and Malone went ring chasing. The same thing was said after they traded Deron Williams and let Millsap and Jefferson sign elsewhere. Letting Hayward walk for nothing, while a mistake at the time, still didn’t derail the Jazz the following season.
The truth is the Utah Jazz fanbase will not tolerate losing. I’d prefer a rebuild through the draft. The fanbase won’t be patient enough for that. Lol
In every scenario, the Jazz missed the playoffs only during a short window. In the Hayward scenario, the Jazz actually benefited because that freed up both playing time and the spotlight for Donovan Mitchell to shine. He transformed the Jazz overnight to an exciting playoff team. In fact, the Jazz have one of the highest winning percentages of the last 40? years in the NBA. Compare that to the Kings who have missed the playoffs for 17 straight years. There’s a mentality your team needs to have. The Jazz have that.
As for free agents, you forget that Bojan signed as a free agent. Whiteside signed as a free agent. There’s also Boozer, Carr, Rudy Gay, etc. Look at this year. The Jazz signed one of the best undrafted players in Juzang. They signed the top European wing prospect in Fontecchio. So saying they don’t attract free agents is just snobbish propaganda, TBH.
Now, if you’re talking about the biggest names in free agency, Boozer and Bojan were both highly sought after free agents. Boozer even left playing with LeBron to play for the Jazz. Boozer was a big time scorer for the Jazz. Bojan has been really good as well.
As for Coach Hardy, building relationships is never a bad idea. Every time he does it he gets better at it. Dealing with more variety of players helps even more. Plus, when these players go elsewhere they’ll speak highly of him to other players. He’s building a player’s coach reputation. Players who like that will be drawn to him as a coach for the Jazz. That then becomes another selling point to free agents and draft picks.
Besides, don’t you think players will play harder for a coach they like and don’t want to disappoint or a coach they hate and are avoiding being scolded? Depends on the player, but I would think the Jazz would want to bring in guys who mesh well with positivity.
Bojan is not a major free agent signing. Neither is Whitesite. Rudy Gay?? You are kidding right?? Carlos Boozer and Bojan were mid-tier free agents. Fat contracts with no expectation of ever carrying a team. In addition to Bojan being a foreign player, and Boozer being from Alaska. Anybody from the attached 48 states trying to come to Utah?
Johnny Juzang?? Again, you are kidding right? You are bragging about signing a dude who didn’t get drafted???? Pretty much EVERY top dude who didn’t get drafted should be lining up to go to a REBUILDING Utah team. This is the easiest route to playing time and perhaps sticking in the league.
The roster is going to go through a great deal of turnover. Hardy is wasting his time with “bonding” with dudes who ain’t gonna be there.
I didn’t say Utah would be completely unsuccessful with the rebuild. I just said it will take a long, long time. They will be building through the draft forever. Take a look at Okalahoma City and Houston. This is the timeframe loading up on today’s draft picks will take you. Notice how you have some teams like the Lakers and Miami who trade picks like candy, and still find gems. They only lose the “gems” they want to lose. If Utah finds a “gem”. He ain’t gonna stay. Rebuild back to zero.
Ridiculous take about Cousins, who played in 48 reg season games +5 playoff games, all but 5 games for the Nuggets and all but 2 with the Bucks.
(That’s 5 games more than DeAndre Jordan played last season)
A head-scratcher, choosing DJ over Boogie.
DJ is completely washed/shot, at least with Boogie you can get the occasional scoring game and the mean streak which helps in that locker room.
I think boogie got the shaft. I think he is going to have to play in China if he wants to make any money. He looked good to me in the Last game he played. If they want a lob threat Moses Brown or Fernando.!