Corey Webster held his own this summer, playing for New Zealand going up against Australian NBA players Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova. It impressed the Pelicans’ GM enough to bring him in and take a look through a few workouts.
That impressed Demps enough to give Webster a non-guaranteed contract that gets him into training camp (it’s a three-year deal but with no guaranteed years). Webster talked about it with New Zealand’s Stuff.“I am not there yet but this is another positive step towards my dream of playing in the NBA,” Webster said from New Orleans. “The past week has gone well and the coaches have been impressed enough by the workouts to want me to stay for the training camp.
“It is again up to me now to prove my value to the organisation, to put my head down and give it my best shot at training camp. I came here this week with a three-day window to impress, this has bought me more time and a chance to take the jump into the actual NBA roster.”
The reality is he likely misses the cut. The Pelicans have 13 guaranteed contracts on the roster already, and it’s possible they reach a deal to bring back Norris Cole. It’s not a lock the Pelicans fill the 15th roster spot.
If you’re looking for a way Webster makes the cut, remember that Jrue Holiday and Quincy Pondexter are still trying to recover from injuries (neither is 100 percent), and it is possible the Pelicans at least start the season with one more guard on the roster for depth. If Webster blows everyone away in training camp, maybe he sticks (although he has to beat out Sean Kilpatrick and Bryce Dejean-Jones). If the Pelicans want the depth, they would keep the player through least through the start of the season.
Still, it’s a big step forward for a guy who has been a start in New Zealand the past few years.