New Orleans Pelicans: Two Potential Last Minute Replacement Players

The New Orleans Pelicans had three players test positive for coronavirus, so the roster may see some additional changes before things kick off in Orlando.

The New Orleans Pelicans‘ roster is going to look a bit different at NBA Disney.

The team announced that Darius Miller will not participate, as he is still recovering from a ruptured Achilles suffered last summer.

The Pelicans already signed Sindarius Thornwell to take his spot, but since only players who are sitting out with COVID-19 can be replaced, it means someone else is losing a spot as well.

The Pelicans are unable to reveal which players tested positive due to HIPAA regulations, but we’ll know soon enough, as someone other than Miller is being replaced by Thornwell.

The severity of the illness is also still unknown and the Pelicans have not announced if either of the other two players who tested positive will be with the team for the eight-game finale in Orlando.

This means that there could be a couple of last minute roster spots open for guys who would be very unlikely to play, but could provide important practice and scrimmage competition for the guys who are.

With news that both Michael Beasley and Jamal Crawford have signed with the coronavirus-depleted Nets, other out of work veterans are probably wondering when their phone is going to ring.

There are a few guys not currently associated with the NBA who could be useful replacements if the New Orleans Pelicans do have to pull someone from the roster due to illness.

Here are a couple of guys who would bring value to a practice squad and give the Pelicans looks that will help them prepare for some of the teams they are going to face in Orlando, and hopefully in the first round of the playoffs.