Pelicans Waive Dalen Terry
The Pelicans have requested waivers on guard/forward Dalen Terry, the team announced on Friday (Twitter link via Will Guillory of The Athletic).
New Orleans just acquired Terry (and two second-round picks) on Thursday in the trade that sent Jose Alvarado to New York. The Knicks landed Terry in a separate deal with Chicago.
The 18th overall pick in the 2022 draft after two college seasons at Arizona, Terry never developed into a reliable rotation player in his three-and-a-half years with the Bulls. The 6’6″ wing has appeared in 34 games in 2025/26, averaging 3.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 11.1 minutes per contest.
Assuming Terry goes unclaimed, which seems highly likely, the Pelicans will carry a dead-money cap hit of $5,399,118. They also opened a spot on their standard roster, and Guillory suggests the team plans to promote Bryce McGowens from his two-way contract.
Still just 23 years old, Terry could be a candidate to catch on with another team before the season ends. For what it’s worth, he would qualify for a two-way deal that covers the remainder of ’25/26 once he hits free agency and is eligible to sign with any team except the Knicks.
Pelicans Rumors: Draft, Missi, Morant, Murray, Alvarado, More
Acquiring a 2026 first-round pick is a priority for the Pelicans as the trade deadline approaches, Will Guillory of The Athletic writes, confirming reporting from ClutchPoints and The Stein Line. New Orleans would like to continue adding to its young core but no longer controls a ’26 first-rounder after trading its own pick to Atlanta last June for Derik Queen.
With the Pelicans resistant to moving Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and Herbert Jones, their best bet to acquire that 2026 first-rounder they’re seeking might be making a Yves Missi deal. But it’s not a foregone conclusion that the second-year center will be on the move in the next seven days — Guillory says New Orleans still believe in Missi’s upside and wouldn’t mind experimenting more with a frontcourt that features him playing alongside Queen.
Still, according to Guillory, there have been “whispers” throughout the season about Missi’s desire to be in a situation where he could be a full-time starter. The 21-year-old made 67 starts for New Orleans as a rookie but has primarily come off the bench this season.
Guillory suggests that the Pelicans’ ability to extract a first-round pick for Missi could come into focus within the next week as it becomes clearer which centers around the NBA will and won’t be on the move at the deadline.
Here’s more on the Pelicans:
- A rumor about the Grizzlies sending Ja Morant to New Orleans in a deal centered around Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray is “completely false,” Guillory says, adding that the Pelicans aren’t likely to pursue Morant since they view Jeremiah Fears as their long-term point guard. Still, Poole and Murray are both considered potential trade candidates and there’s a sense that New Orleans would like to move at least one of them, Guillory notes. He also hears, as ClutchPoints reported on Wednesday, that Murray and his representatives may prefer a change of scenery.
- There’s no shortage of suitors for Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, says Guillory, adding the Spurs to the list of teams with interest. But sources familiar with Alvarado’s thinking have conveyed to The Athletic that the 27-year-old would prefer to remain in New Orleans.
- Both the Pelicans and Jordan Hawkins would be open to the possibility of finding the former lottery pick a new NBA home, Guillory reports. Hawkins is playing a career-low 14.1 minutes per game off the bench this season and is averaging just 4.3 points per game on .320/.301/.778 shooting.
- The Pelicans are “big believers” in two-way player Bryce McGowens and would like to make room on the 15-man roster to promote him to a multiyear standard contract, Guillory writes. The club currently has a full roster but could open up a spot as a result of its deadline moves.
Southwest Notes: Zion, McGowens, Morant, Castle, Harper
Zion Williamson came off the bench Sunday as he returned to action after missing the previous five games with a right hip adductor strain, writes Matt Carlson of The Associated Press. It was the first time Williamson hasn’t started in his NBA career, but he was on a minutes limit and Pelicans interim coach James Borrego wanted to make sure he was available for crunch time.
“It was a game plan that allowed me to close the game, with my body being used to playing certain minutes of a quarter,” Williamson said. “So you know he walked me through it. I didn’t have a problem with it because it allowed me to close the game. The rhythm did feel pretty good, but most of all I’m glad we got the win.”
Injuries have been a recurring problem for Williamson, who has missed 16 games already this season with four separate issues. He can still be a difference maker when he’s healthy — he’s averaging 21.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per night — and New Orleans will need to keep him in the lineup to recover from a 5-22 start.
“Injuries suck, there’s no other way to put it,” he said. “Rehabbing’s not fun either. But over the summer, me putting that work in my body, it allows me — if something does happen — it’s nothing that keeps me out a super, long time. I’m able to rehab at a faster but more efficient rate.”
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Bryce McGowens has been a pleasant surprise after joining the Pelicans on a two-way contract during the summer, observes Rod Walker of NOLA.com (subscription required). The fourth-year shooting guard is trying to reestablish himself as an NBA regular after having some success in Charlotte early in his career, and he’s been seeing consistent minutes in New Orleans. “I’m super blessed to be in this position of being in an organization that believes and trusts and puts me in situations,” McGowens said. “It feels good. I work hard. The coaches know me. My job is to get after it and do whatever the team needs me to do so we can win.”
- Grizzlies guard Ja Morant had 21 points and 10 assists as he returned to the court Friday night, per Clay Bailey of The Associated Press. Morant felt a need to take charge of the offense after missing 10 games with a right calf strain, but he shot just 7-of-20 from the field and committed four turnovers in a little more than 25 minutes. “I was forced to get some shots up,” he said. “Some of them, I should have been to the free throw line. Some I missed. Some of them I made. I can’t change it. I just got to live with it.”
- After attending Saturday’s NBA Cup semifinal games, Spurs legend Tony Parker came away impressed with young guards Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, according to Mike Finger of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required). “They’re so fearless,” Parker said. “That’s how I was. That’s how Manu (Ginobili) was.”
Pelicans Notes: Injuries, Peavy, McGowens, Borrego
Seven Pelicans — including their five highest-paid players — are out for Sunday’s game at the Lakers, per Will Guillory of The Athletic (Twitter links).
In addition to Dejounte Murray (right Achilles rupture), Jordan Poole (left quad strain), Karlo Matkovic (right calf strain) and Herbert Jones, who have all missed multiple games with their respective injuries, Jordan Hawkins will be unavailable for his second straight contest due to an illness, as will Trey Murphy III, who is battling right elbow soreness.
The seventh Pelican out tonight is star forward Zion Williamson, who is missing the second game of a back-to-back after the Pelicans lost at Golden State on Saturday. Williamson’s designation is left hamstring injury management — he missed eight games earlier this month with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain.
Here’s more on the Pelicans:
- Second-round pick Micah Peavy and fourth-year wing Bryce McGowens have been taking on challenging defensive assignments recently with Jones sidelined, writes Rod Walker of NOLA.com. “That’s what I want to do,” said Peavy, who finished Monday’s game with 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and four steals in 20 minutes. “Herb is a great defender. And I want to be known as a great defender in this league. I take on that challenge of guarding the best player, especially when Herb’s out. I think I’m doing a pretty good job.” McGowens is on a two-way contract with New Orleans, while Peavy signed a multiyear standard deal after being selected No. 40 overall in June’s draft.
- The Pelicans are just 1-7 since James Borrego took over as interim head coach following the dismissal of Willie Green, who was fired after a 2-10 start. However, the team has shown signs of progress, namely being more competitive in its losses, according to Walker. “As a competitor, I want us to win and I want us to make every shot,” Borrego said. “The results can overwhelm you at times. The best organizations I’ve been a part of are process-driven. They have an identity and they know what they believe in. They know what shots they are trying to create, whether they go in or not. Trust that this is where we need to go and the results will take care of themselves. We are getting closer to that. We are not near where we need to be, but we are getting close.”
- Players have been pleased with Borrego’s performance thus far, Walker adds in the same story. “I know he’s in a tough spot with everything that went on,” Williamson said. “He’s been doing a great job finding our identity for the team. The guys are behind him. The staff is behind him. We’re with him.”
Pelicans Sign Bryce McGowens To Two-Way Contract
July 31: McGowens’ two-way contract with the Pelicans is now official, the team announced in a press release.
July 30: The Pelicans are signing free agent guard Bryce McGowens to a new two-way deal, his Priority Sports agents Kyle McAlarney and Mark Bartelstein tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
McGowens has split his three previous NBA seasons between the Hornets and Trail Blazers.
The Nebraska swingman inked a two-way deal with Charlotte as a rookie in 2022/23, toggling between Charlotte and its NBAGL affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. His contract was converted to a multiyear standard deal midway through that first pro season. In 105 combined regular season bouts for the Hornets across two years, he averaged 5.2 PPG, 1.9 RPG, and 1.0 APG, with a shooting line of .419/.330/.764.
Charlotte cut McGowens in the summer of 2024, and he subsequently agreed to a two-way deal with the Blazers. The 6’7″ wing played a limited role at the NBA level for Portland, averaging just 2.5 MPG across 13 outings.
Still just 22, McGowens put up impressive numbers for the Rip City Remix, Portland’s NBAGL affiliate, in 2024/25. Across 16 regular season bouts, he averaged 29.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.5 SPG and 0.8 BPG on .487/.330/.806 shooting. A right rib fracture cut his season short.
McGowens will join fellow two-way signings Trey Alexander and Hunter Dickinson in New Orleans.
2024/25 All-NBA G League Teams Announced
In a series of tweets, the NBA has announced the three All-NBA G League teams for the 2024/25 season. Here’s the full list of honorees:
First Team
- JD Davison, Maine Celtics ^
- Oscar Tshiebwe, Salt Lake City Stars (Jazz‘s affiliate) *
- Mac McClung, Osceola Magic *
- Jaylen Nowell, Capital City Go-Go (Wizards‘ affiliate)
- Malachi Flynn, Austin Spurs
Second Team
- Mason Jones, Stockton Kings *
- Elijah Harkless, Salt Lake City Stars *
- Bryce McGowens, Rip City Remix (Trail Blazers‘ affiliate) *
- Moses Brown, Westchester Knicks
- Drew Timme, Long Island Nets ^
Third Team
- Chuma Okeke, Westchester Knicks ~
- T.J. Warren, Westchester Knicks
- Trey Alexander, Grand Rapids Gold (Nuggets‘ affiliate) *
- Josh Christopher, Sioux Falls Skyforce (Heat‘s affiliate) *
- Isaac Jones, Stockton Kings ^
* Denotes two-way contract
^ Denotes standard contract
~ On a standard contract with the Cavaliers
While each player selected has some level of NBA experience, four of them — Flynn, Nowell, Brown and Warren — are currently free agents. Of that group, only Warren didn’t appear in an NBA regular season game during the ’24/25 campaign.
Davison, Tshiebwe and Nowell finished first, second and third in voting (in that order) for this season’s G League Most Valuable Player award, so it’s no surprise that they made the First Team. McClung, who was the league’s 2023/24 MVP, helped Osceola make the NBAGL Finals this spring, with the final spot going to former Pistons guard Flynn, who signed a 10-day contract with Charlotte last month.
Mason Jones recently helped Stockton win its first G League title, earning Finals MVP in the process. He’s joined on the Second Team by NBAGL Most Improved Player Harkless, McGowens, Brown, and Timme.
Former first-round pick Okeke signed a pair of 10-day contracts with Philadelphia before signing with Cleveland ahead of the playoffs. NBA veteran Warren, G League Rookie of the Year Alexander, Heat two-way guard Christopher, and Kings big man Jones round out the Third Team.
Davison and Isaac Jones were promoted from two-way deals to standard contracts at the end of the season. Timme was an NBA free agent before Brooklyn gave him a two-year standard contract in March due to his strong play in the NBAGL.
Trail Blazers’ Bryce McGowens Fractures Rib, Out For Season
Trail Blazers two-way player Bryce McGowens fractured his right rib during a game with Portland’s G League affiliate squad, the Rip City Remix, the Trail Blazers announced on Wednesday (Twitter link).
According to the team, the injury will sideline McGowens for the rest of the 2024/25 season. Portland expects him to make a full recovery.
McGowens has made a bigger impression with the Remix than he did with the Trail Blazers. In 16 regular season bouts with Portland’s NBAGL affiliate, he finishes the year with averages of 29.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.5 SPG and 0.8 BPG. He has a shooting line of .487/.330/.806.
Across 13 contests with Portland proper this season, the 6’7″ wing played just 32 total minutes, scoring 13 points on 4-of-14 shooting.
McGowens had a larger role last season as a member of the Hornets, appearing in 59 games (14 starts) and averaging 5.1 PPG and 1.7 RPG in 14.9 MPG.
Because his two-way contract only covers the ’24/25 season, McGowens will be eligible for restricted free agency this offseason if Portland issues him a two-way qualifying offer.
NBA Announces Player Pool For 2025 Rising Stars Event
The NBA has officially revealed the 10 rookies, 11 sophomores, and seven G League players who have been selected to take part in the 2025 Rising Stars event at All-Star weekend in San Francisco next month.
The following players made the cut, as voted on by NBA assistant coaches (rookies and sophomores) and selected by the league office (G Leaguers):
Rookies
- Carlton Carrington (Wizards)
- Stephon Castle (Spurs)
- Tristan Da Silva (Magic)
- Zach Edey (Grizzlies)
- Dalton Knecht (Lakers)
- Jared McCain (Sixers)
- Yves Missi (Pelicans)
- Zaccharie Risacher (Hawks)
- Alex Sarr (Wizards)
- Jaylen Wells (Grizzlies)
Sophomores
- Bilal Coulibaly (Wizards)
- Gradey Dick (Raptors)
- Keyonte George (Jazz)
- Scoot Henderson (Trail Blazers)
- Trayce Jackson-Davis (Warriors)
- Jaime Jaquez (Heat)
- Dereck Lively II (Mavericks)
- Brandon Miller (Hornets)
- Amen Thompson (Rockets)
- Cason Wallace (Thunder)
- Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)
G League Players
- JD Davison (Maine Celtics) *
- Mac McClung (Osceola Magic) *
- Bryce McGowens (Rip City Remix) *
- Leonard Miller (Iowa Wolves) *
- Dink Pate (Mexico City Capitanes)
- Reed Sheppard (Rio Grande Valley Vipers) *
- Pat Spencer (Santa Cruz Warriors) *
* Note: Players marked with asterisks are on standard or two-way contracts with NBA teams.
As usual, the Rising Stars event will consist of four teams and three games. The seven G League players will comprise one team, while the other 21 players will be drafted to three squads on February 4.
The four teams will be split into two first-round matchups and the winners of those two games will face one another for the Rising Stars championship. The two semifinals will be played to a target score of 40 points, while the final will be played to a target score of 25 points.
All three contests will take place on Friday, February 14 as part of All-Star weekend’s opening night. The winning team will compete on Sunday in a similar four-team tournament, with the three other rosters made up of NBA All-Stars.
A handful of injury replacements will be necessary, with McCain, Lively, and Brandon Miller among the players who won’t be available to suit up. Additionally, since players selected as All-Stars won’t play in the Rising Stars event, Wembanyama will almost certainly need to be replaced.
Trail Blazers Sign Bryce McGowens To Two-Way Contract
6:12pm: McGowens’ two-way deal with the Blazers is official, according to the team (Twitter link).
2:22pm: The Trail Blazers are signing free agent wing Bryce McGowens to a two-way contract, agents Kyle McAlarney and Mark Bartelstein tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
McGowens, 21, was the No. 40 overall pick of the 2022 draft after spending one college season at Nebraska. He spent his first two NBA seasons with the Hornets, who waived his non-guaranteed contract on Saturday to create more salary cap flexibility.
In 59 games with Charlotte in 2023/24, McGowens averaged 5.1 PPG, 1.7 RPG and 0.9 APG with a .439/.333/.776 shooting line in 14.9 MPG.
As our tracker shows, Portland currently only has one player — Justin Minaya — signed to a two-way contract. McGowens will fill the second of three total two-way spots.
If he stays on a two-way deal for the entire ’24/25 season, McGowens will earn a little under $579K. He will be eligible for restricted free agency in 2025, assuming he isn’t released before then.
Southeast Notes: KCP, Fultz, Okeke, Ware, Highsmith, McGowens, Wizards
The Magic‘s promising future played an important role in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope‘s decision to join the team in free agency, tweets Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel. Caldwell-Pope won titles with the Nuggets in 2023 and the Lakers in 2020, and he likes his chances to pick up a third ring in Orlando.
“I’m always chasing the championship,” Caldwell-Pope said. “… Seeing their progress, they just made it to the playoffs, taking Cleveland to a Game 7. That was enough for me. They got a little bit of a taste of that pressure and what it takes to make it past the first round. I’m just excited to be a part of it.”
Caldwell-Pope will become a veteran leader on a team that has amassed an impressive collection of young talent over the last few drafts. He’s looking forward to playing alongside Paolo Banchero, who became an All-Star in his second NBA season.
“His knowledge of the game,” Caldwell-Pope responded when asked what stands out about Banchero. “Him being patient in certain situations, making plays for his teammates to get his teammates involved. Being so much of a little bit of a leader that I’ve seen from him.”
There’s more from the Southeast Division:
- The Magic renounced their free agent rights to Markelle Fultz and Chuma Okeke to clear up cap room for other moves, according to Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link). Both players are still eligible to sign new contracts with Orlando.
- The Heat want rookie center Kel’el Ware to gain weight before the start of the season, per Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald (Twitter link). The first-round pick weighed in at 230 pounds when he arrived at Summer League camp, and he said the team would prefer him to be between 240 and 245.
- Free agent forward Haywood Highsmith still has interest in returning to the Heat, according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. The Sixers were considered a potential landing spot for Highsmith, Chiang adds, but that seems less likely after Philadelphia signed Caleb Martin.
- Bryce McGowens, who was waived earlier today, will continue to be part of the Hornets‘ Summer League team, tweets Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer.
- Brown University assistant coach T.J. Sorrentine was thrilled to get the chance to join Brian Keefe‘s staff with the Wizards, relays Bill Koch of The Providence Journal. “My family was happy. I was in a great spot,” Sorrentine said. “But going through a day with coach Keefe and meeting with people, I left here and I called my wife (Emily) and I was like, ‘Man, it’s going to be really hard to come back to college.’ This was a unique opportunity. That’s when I knew it was time to go. I was ready. I’m going to take full advantage of this opportunity.” Adam Caporn, director of development with the Nets’ coaching staff, has also accepted a job with Washington, according to NetsDaily (Twitter link). Caporn’s hiring had been anticipated.