OCTOBER 11: The Pelicans introduced they signed each Elfrid Payton and Josh Oduro on Friday morning. Almost a month after the unique report, the cope with Payton turns into official a day after each Matt Ryan and Adonis Arms had been waived.
As we initially wrote, the Pelicans have a spot on their 15-man roster open. With Ryan out of the image, Payton may theoretically make a push for that slot. Nonetheless, it appears extra seemingly that that is positioning for Payton to affix the staff’s G League affiliate in Birmingham.
The Oduro signing hadn’t beforehand been reported. He performed 4 collegiate seasons at George Mason earlier than transferring to Windfall for his remaining yr. He averaged 12.9 factors and 6.6 rebounds throughout 148 faculty video games (128 begins). Oduro went undrafted in 2024 however suited up for New Orleans in summer time league, making two appearances.
Whereas the phrases of the deal weren’t disclosed, a number of reviews indicated each are signing non-guaranteed coaching camp contracts that presumably embody Exhibit 9 language and presumably Exhibit 10 as effectively. If the latter is true for both of them or each, they’ll be eligible for a bonus price as much as $77.5K in the event that they spend not less than 60 days in Birmingham.
SEPTEMBER 19: The Pelicans have agreed to signal free agent level guard Elfrid Payton to a non-guaranteed coaching camp contract, reviews Andrew Lopez of ESPN (Twitter hyperlink).
Payton, the tenth total choose within the 2014 draft, has 500 common season appearances underneath his belt throughout eight NBA seasons with the Magic, Suns, Pelicans, and Knicks. Nonetheless, he hasn’t been within the league since suiting up for Phoenix throughout the 2021/22 season. The 30-year-old performed in Puerto Rico in 2023 after which spent final season with the Indiana Mad Ants, the Pacers’ G League affiliate.
A Louisiana native who performed faculty ball for the Ragin’ Cajuns in Lafayette, Payton has by no means been an ideal shooter, with profession averages of 44.7% from the ground and 28.7% from past the arc. Nonetheless, he’s a gifted ball-handler and play-maker who averaged 10.1 factors, 5.7 assists, and 4.0 rebounds in 26.8 minutes per recreation over the course of his NBA profession.
Payton had been figuring out on the Pelicans’ observe facility in Metairie this offseason, notes Christian Clark of NOLA.com (Twitter hyperlink).
Whereas the Pelicans are solely carrying 14 gamers on commonplace contracts, they appear more likely to go away their fifteenth roster spot unfilled to begin the season as a consequence of luxurious tax issues, so Payton might be an extended shot to make the membership. If New Orleans is open to carrying a fifteenth man, he’d presumably vie with Matt Ryan and different camp invitees for that spot. In any other case, Payton might find yourself again within the G League this fall.
As soon as Payton’s deal is official, the Pelicans can have a complete of 19 gamers underneath contract, together with two-ways, leaving a pair of openings on their 21-man preseason roster.
