Pelicans Snag Trendon Watford on a Steal — Literally

The New Orleans Pelicans just made a low-key power move, locking in free agent forward Trendon Watford on a one-year, $2.9 million deal, per sources telling ESPN.

Watford, 25, is entering his sixth NBA season — and he's bringing serious versatility to the Crescent City after a year that showed exactly why teams keep calling his name.

Wait, He Did What Last Season?

In 2025-26, Watford put up a quietly solid line of 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. But the real head-turner? He notched his first career triple-double with 20 points, a career-high 17 rebounds and a career-high 10 assists. That's not just a stat sheet stuffer — that's a dude who can impact the game in every way on a given night.

Now the not-so-pretty part: his long-range shooting was rough. Watford went just 10-of-50 from three — a frigid 20% — and that's clearly something opponents will try to exploit. But in New Orleans, he won't be asked to be a sniper. He'll be a connector, a glue guy, and a matchup headache.

The Philly Breakup

Watford hit the open market after the 76ers declined his $2.8 million option for the 2026-27 season back in June. He had options — multiple teams came calling, per reports — but he chose the Pelicans' vibe and the promise of real minutes in a flexible frontcourt.

For New Orleans, this is a productive two-way get deep into the offseason. A versatile forward who can rebound, pass and defend? At $2.9M? That's the kind of value move that wins bench units in April.

Welcome to the bayou, Trendon. Bring that triple-double energy.