New Orleans Pelicans Add Depth to Backcourt With Additional Signings

The New Orleans Pelicans have remained busy this off season with the signings of two more guards, Darius Morris and Tyrone Wallace.

The New Orleans Pelicans look to further solidify their roster and add depth by signing two more guards to the team.

According to Senior NBA Writer Shams Charania with The Athlectic, The Pelicans and guard Tyrone Wallace agreed to an offer sheet on Sunday that is for the minimum exception.

The Pelicans then doubled back and signed guard Darius Morris to a partially guaranteed 2 year deal.

Wallace is a 6-5 guard who started last season on the Los Angeles Clippers’ G League team. A bevy of injuries to the Clippers guards forced a call up in January and saw Wallace playing in 30 games down the stretch. Wallace is a restricted free agent, so the Clippers can match any deal for Wallace. It seems unlikely that this will happen however, as the Clippers already have 15 players with guaranteed contracts currently on their roster.

Darius Morris last played in the NBA during the 2014-2015 season with the Brooklyn Nets. He has spent most of his time overseas, last playing for the Guangdong Southern in China last season. The 6-4 guard was originally drafted the by Lakers as the 41st pick in the 2011 draft. He has played on five different NBA teams since being drafted.

The Pelicans also announced that they have released forward DeAndre Liggins on Friday. The guard/forward appeared in 27 games after being signed in January.

It is unclear if Wallace and Morris will be able to crack the roster. The Pelicans already have Jrue Holiday, newly acquired guard Elfrid Payton, veteran Ian Clark, and emerging second year player Frank Jackson slotted to be getting playing time this year. Also, depending on match-ups, E’Twaun Moore often slides into his natural guard position.

The release of Liggins makes sense as the Pelicans have recently signed three forwards to the roster in what seems like a never ending merry-go-round to find the right guy at the 3 position. The signings of both Wallace and Morris appear odd as well given the depth they have at the guard position.

It will be hard for these two to make the final roster, but healthy competition is never a bad thing. You never know what diamond in the rough will produce from this.

Only time will tell what becomes of these signings and whether they can make an impact on the team. For now, the Pelicans look to improve their roster and make noise in the ultra competitive Western Conference.