Toney Douglas had a couple stints with the Pelicans last season. He first signed on Feb. 4 for a couple of 10-day contracts, but wasn’t picked up for the season at that time. Then on March 24 things changed and the Pelicans picked him up for the rest of the campaign. He added some guard depth to an injury-riddled New Orleans roster, played some decent defense, and he got in a dozen games for the team (but none in the playoffs).
But he was never expected to make it back in the fall, and that became official on Friday — the Pelicans waived Douglas.
That leaves the Pelicans with a dozen guaranteed contracts on the roster.
There is one big question remaining — what happens with Norris Cole? He is a restricted free agent who was hoping to get an offer larger than the qualifying one the Pelicans extended — he’s had talks with the Sixers — but so far nothing.
Cole played some of the best ball of his career for the Pelicans late last season — he averaged 9.9 points and 3.2 assists a game and played good defense, then continued that solid performance in the playoffs against Golden State. The Pelicans want him back, which is why Cole has struggled to get an offer from another team because they all assume the Pelicans would just match.