The New Orleans Pelicans are one of only three teams that have yet to get a win this NBA season and a lot of that has to do with injuries. The Pelicans have been ravaged early on by injuries especially at the point guard position as they have tried several different players there with Jrue Holiday being severely limited and Norris Cole out. Now the Pelicans have reportedly added Jimmer Fredette to the roster, according to Sham Charania of Yahoo Sports.
Because the Pelicans have had so many players miss time with injuries they were able to add Fredette without cutting anyone via the hardship exception. The Philadelphia 76ers recently used the hardship exception to sign Phil Pressey and now the Pelicans will reportedly become the second team to use it this season.
Fredette was in training camp with the San Antonio Spurs and although he was a big favorite to make their roster he was beat out by Rasual Butler. Fredette ended up joining the D-League draft where he was the second overall pick by the Westchester Knicks, the New York Knicks D-League affiliate. Fredette was hoping that he would be able to play well there and earn a shot with the Knicks as they have an open roster spot but he got another chance earlier with a different team.
If Fredette were to be cut by New Orleans he would be returned to Westchester and that is very possible once the Pelicans get healthy. For now though, Fredette joins a point guard group that has changed a lot. Holiday has started four games but he is very limited due to leg issues so right now the Pelicans are going with Ish Smith and Toney Douglas for the most part. Nate Robinson was with the team and started their opening game but was cut after just two games with the team and replaced by Douglas.
Fredette is likely being added as insurance as there are three point guards ahead of him and Douglas and Smith have played pretty well in their time so far. Jimmer played in 50 games with New Orleans last season and didn't make much of an impact as he scored 3.6 points per game while making just 19 percent of his threes. This signing is likely just a short-term insurance policy unless the 26 year old guard really surprises a lot of people.
