The Pelicans extended Fredette a non-guaranteed contract and he is expected to be available to play on Tuesday night against the the Dallas Mavericks. New Orleans, hampered by numerous injuries, is off to a 0-6 start this season.
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Former National Basketball Association lottery pick Jimmer Fredette has signed with the New Orleans Pelicans.
According to Dan Feldman of NBC Sports, the Pelicans are missing at least five players to injury just six games into the season. On its injury report entering Tuesday’s game, the Pelicans listed Tyreke Evans (knee), Norris Cole (ankle), Quincy Pondexter (knee) and Kendrick Perkins (pectoral) as unable to play.
That the Pelicans are turning back to Fredette shows what kind of dire situation they’re in.
Fredette is likely being added as insurance as there are three point guards ahead of him and Douglas and Smith have played pretty well in their time so far.
Late last month, Fredette was selected by the NY Knicks’ D-League team, the Westchester Knicks, with the No. 2 overall pick Saturday in the D-League draft. For now though, Fredette joins a point guard group that has changed a lot. If he doesn’t stick in New Orleans, he’ll head back to Westchester. The Philadelphia 76ers recently used the hardship exception to sign Phil Pressey and now the Pelicans will reportedly become the second team to use it this season. He played 50 games last season for the Pelicans and averaged 3.6 points per game.
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A 6-foot-2 guard who gained prominence as a scorer and shooter at BYU, Fredette researched overseas opportunities before committing to the D-League.
