New Orleans Pelicans 2024 Free Agents
Jonas Valanciunas and Naji Marshall will be the key players from the New Orleans Pelicans headed into free agency this summer.
Before going in-depth on the New Orleans Pelicans’ upcoming free agents, let’s first look at their cap sheet.
Aside from the 4 players the Pelicans have headed into free agency, they also have upcoming decisions to make with Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Matt Ryan.
The Pelicans have until June 29 to exercise the $2.1 million team option on Robinson-Earl’s contract.
As long as Ryan is on the team by opening night in late October, his contract will fully guarantee for $2.1 million.
Zion Williamson is on a non-guaranteed contract that is partially guaranteed for 50% and the contract will fully guarantee after January 7, 2025. The reason Williamson’s deal is not fully guaranteed in the first place, is because of his injury history in prior seasons.
It would be very surprising if the Pelicans didn’t exercise Jose Alvarado’s $1.9 million team option by June 29. When healthy, Alvarado is one of the Pelican’s key rotation players.
Now let’s look at the Pelicans’ free agents.
Jonas Valanciunas 6’11” - Unrestricted Free Agent
Position - Center. Valanciunas played all of his minutes at the 5.
All position minutes data for all free agents via CleaningTheGlass.com
Free agent status - Valanciunas will be an unrestricted free agent with a $23.1 million cap hold and full bird rights on the Pelicans’ cap sheet.
NBA Experience - Valanciunas will be 32 when next season begins, with 12 years of NBA experience.
Latest Rumors - Valanciunas is not likely to return to the Pelicans according to a recent report, and perhaps a cap space team like the Oklahoma City Thunder may look at him as an option for their center position.
Cody Zeller 6’11” - Unrestricted Free Agent
Position - Center. Zeller played all of his minutes at the 5.
Free agent status - Zeller will be an unrestricted free agent with a $2 million cap hold and non-bird rights on the Pels’ books.
NBA Experience - Zeller will be 31 next season, with 11 years of NBA experience.
Naji Marshall 6’6” - Unrestricted Free Agent
Position - Wing. Marshall played 90% of his minutes at the 2 and 3.
Free agent status - Marshall will be an unrestricted free agent with a $2 million cap hold and full bird rights on the Pelicans’ cap sheet.
NBA Experience - Marshall will be 26 when next season begins, with 4 years of NBA experience.
Latest Rumors - Marshall is likely to sign elsewhere this summer, with other teams reportedly having prior interest in him.
The Two-Way Free Agent - Dereon Seabron
The Pelicans have until June 29 to tender Seabron a $2 million qualifying offer to become a restricted free agent.
Seabron, a 6’5” guard, played in just 6 games for the Pelicans, averaging 9.2 minutes.
What are the salary projections for the Pelicans’ free agents and should the Spurs try to sign any of the free agents?
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