7:10 pm: Watford is officially a Pelican, per NBA.com’s transaction log.
8:33 am: Free agent forward Trendon Watford will join the Pelicans on a one-year, $2.9MM contract, sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link).
Based on those terms, it figures to be a veteran’s minimum contract for Watford, whose minimum salary this season is $2,845,883. He considered multiple options before choosing New Orleans, Charania adds.
A report earlier this month stated that Watford was in “advanced” negotiations to join Valencia Basket in the EuroLeague. However, he was able to land the NBA opportunity and will return with his fourth team in six seasons.
After spending two years in Portland and two more in Brooklyn, Watford signed a multiyear deal with the Sixers last summer that included a $2.8MM team option for 2026/27. He became a free agent when Philadelphia declined that option in late June.
Watford had a fringe rotation role last season, appearing in 53 games (seven starts) and averaging 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 16.3 minutes per night. It was the lowest-scoring season of his career and marked a sharp drop after he averaged 10.2 PPG with the Nets the previous year.
Watford is the first veteran offseason addition for the Pelicans, who have been in the midst of a quiet summer so far. He brings New Orleans up to 15 players on standard contracts, though it’s unclear if his salary will be fully guaranteed.
Watford, 25, can play either forward position, but still faces a battle for playing time on a roster that remains mostly intact from last season. Assuming he’s part of the 15-man regular season squad, he’ll be an experienced backup who could take on a larger role in the event of a Zion Williamson or Derik Queen injury or a trade involving Herbert Jones or Trey Murphy III.