On Thursday afternoon, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that the Atlanta Hawks and Caleb Houstan agreed to a one-year deal. Houston is a former 5-star recruit who, since arriving in the NBA, has made a name for himself as a sharpshooter. Over his 168 career games, he has shot 37.2% from three.
Coming into the offseason, three-point shooting was one of the Pelicans' biggest needs. So, on Thursday morning, when I realized Houstan was still a free agent, I got to work. I started drafting a piece on why he could be a sneaky signing for the Pelicans, and before I could finish, he had signed with the Hawks.
This is now the third time the Hawks have hurt the Pelicans this offseason. First, it was them poaching Bryson Graham, who, at the time, was the Pelicans' General Manager, whom the Hawks hired to be their new Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations. Graham was extremely important to the Pelicans franchise as he had been with the team for over 15 years and was instrumental in drafting Trey Murphy and Herb Jones back in 2021.
Then the Hawks followed this move up by trading the New Orleans Pelicans pick No. 13 in the 2025 NBA draft for an unprotected swap between the Bucks and Pelicans as well as pick No. 23. This move had the NBA shocked as the Hawks not only traded back and got a extremely valuable first round pick but also stayed in the first round and drafted Asa Newell.
The Houstan signing is the Hawks' newest way to hurt the Pelicans
New Orleans ranked in the bottom five in both three-point attempts and made per game last season, so missing out on Caleb Houstan is a tough break, especially with him going to a team that has already taken so much from you this offseason in the Hawks. Houston shot 50.7% from three after the All-Star break last season and is still just 22 years old.
Houston would have helped solidify the Pelicans' wing rotation and further bolstered their shooting. Houstan would've been incredible coming down off screens and nailing catch-and-shoot threes for the Pelicans. Instead, he’s heading to Atlanta, where he’ll join a Hawks team that has not only improved itself this offseason but has done so at the expense of the Pelicans.
While the Caleb Houstan signing may not make headlines, it's one that should sting Pelicans fans, as they have once again missed out on a perfect opportunity.