What Signing Sindarius Thornwell Means for the New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans Pelicans: The Roster is Still Not Set

When the Pelicans announced that three of their players had tested positive for coronavirus, they were unable to release the names due to HIPAA regulations.

It was also unclear when these players contracted the virus, how bad their symptoms were and whether they would be able to participate in the Orlando re-start.

Medical researchers are still studying the potential long-term effects of COVID-19, so it’s not surprising that there is a lot of uncertainty as to how it will affect a world class athlete.

Sindarius Thornwell was almost certainly signed to replace one of the these three players on the roster, as he can’t have Miller’s spot.

Only players who are sitting out with COVID-19 can be replaced, so Thornwell’s spot is coming from one of those three players.

This creates a lot of questions for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Who are the three players and which one is sitting out?

Did this player suffer severe symptoms from coronavirus that made him unable to play?

What does this mean for the roster moving forward?

In the end, Thornwell is probably not going to see any game action and will be used primarily as a practice substitute, but his signing could have long-term ramifications for the New Orleans Pelicans’ roster.