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Updated New Orleans Pelicans Roster After Saturday's Player Swap
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- Updated New Orleans Pelicans Roster After Saturday's Player Swap
(Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images)
The New Orleans Pelicans filled out their roster right before training camp kicked off, but that doesn't mean that they can't keep toying with things. Over a week into training camp and a few preseason games in, they decided to make a bit of a swap.
News broke on Friday that the Pelicans released center Christian Koloko, who was on a one-year, non-guaranteed training camp deal. He was signed as a potential answer on defense with a possible two-way landing spot, but the team moved on to make room for a prospect they clearly like.
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New Orleans made it official on Sunday as it announced it as a corresponding move to the signing of forward Jalon Moore. Moore was a member of the Pelicans' Summer League team earlier this summer. He was someone who could have been a second-round pick in 2025, but suffered a torn ACL.
Troy Weaver obviously liked what he saw in the 23-year-old back in college. He saw a ton of him while scouting Jeremiah Fears , as he and Moore were teammates on the Oklahoma Sooners that season. There was a lot to like that season, as he posted 15.9 points and 5.8 rebounds on 47.1/38.1/84.0 shooting splits.
It was said after they moved on from Koloko, but it always made more sense for that roster spot to go to another wing who could be a little more versatile than a pure center who didn't bring much on offense.
Moore was a versatile defender back in college, and that is going to be his way into staying on New Orleans' radar. He could technically work his way into one of those two-way spots that is currently held by someone else, but this is most likely a look at him before going to the G League team again.
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Here is an updated look at the Pelicans' roster after this swap, remaining at a total of 21 players:
Guards
PG Jeremiah Fears
PG Dejounte Murray
Combo Guard Jordan Poole
SG AJ Johnson
SG Jaron Pierre Jr. - Two-Way Contract
G Kobe Bufkin - Training Camp
Wings
SF/SG Trey Murphy III
SG/SF Herbert Jones Jr.
SG Bennedict Mathurin
F Saddiq Bey
SG/SF Bryce McGowens
SG/SF Caleb Houstan - Training Camp
SF Jalon Moore - Training Camp
Bigs
PF Zion Williamson
C Yves Missi
C/F Derik Queen
C Karlo Matkovic
C DeAndre Jordan
F Trendon Watford
F Julian Reese - Two-Way Contract
F Malik Dia - Two-Way Contract
