Pelicans sign Trendon Watford following his season with the Philadelphia 76ers

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS

Pelicans Sign Foward Trendon Watford

by
The Who Dat Daily Staff
2026-08-17

By Gee Bino | The Who Dat Daily

The Pelicans sign Trendon Watford move brings a familiar Louisiana basketball name back to the state. New Orleans has reportedly agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million contract with the former LSU forward, adding another versatile piece to a roster still taking shape under head coach Jamahl Mosley.

Watford is not a traditional late-offseason depth signing. The 6-foot-8, 245-pound forward can rebound, handle the ball and create offense for teammates. He also brings five seasons of NBA experience despite being only 25 years old.

The deal carries little long-term financial risk. However, it creates another important competition inside a crowded Pelicans frontcourt.

Pelicans Sign Trendon Watford After Philadelphia Season

Watford spent the 2025-26 season with the Philadelphia 76ers. He appeared in 53 regular-season games and made seven starts. He averaged 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 16.3 minutes per game while shooting 51.5% from the field.

His best performance showed the full range of his game. Watford recorded 20 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists against the Toronto Raptors for the first triple-double of his NBA career.

That performance was not typical production, but it showed why teams remain interested in his skill set. Watford can function as a secondary playmaker instead of merely finishing possessions around the basket.

Philadelphia declined his $2.8 million team option for the upcoming season, making him an unrestricted free agent. New Orleans then secured him on a reported one-year agreement worth $2.9 million.

What Trendon Watford Brings to New Orleans

Watford has played 270 regular-season games with the Portland Trail Blazers, Brooklyn Nets and 76ers. His career averages are 7.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 17.3 minutes.

Those numbers describe a reserve. They do not fully explain his value.

A Forward Who Can Create

Watford is comfortable receiving the ball away from the basket and making a decision. He can push after a defensive rebound, attack a slower big man or locate a cutter from the middle of the floor.

That versatility could help the Pelicans when their primary guards leave the game. It also gives Mosley another player who can connect actions between the perimeter and the paint.

Watford will not replace a full-time point guard. Still, his passing can keep the offense moving and reduce possessions that end with one player dribbling into a difficult shot.

Size for Multiple Frontcourt Roles

At 6-foot-8 and 245 pounds, Watford can play either forward position and handle selected minutes as a small-ball center. He has enough strength to battle inside while possessing the ball skills to attack traditional big men in space.

That flexibility matters on a roster featuring Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Saddiq Bey, Derik Queen, Yves Missi and Karlo Matkovic. Watford gives the coaching staff another way to build lineups when injuries, foul trouble or matchups force an adjustment.

The Shooting Question Cannot Be Ignored

Watford’s fit is not flawless.

He made only 10 of 50 three-point attempts last season, a 20% conversion rate. His career percentage is 32.5%. Opponents may leave him open to crowd the paint against Williamson or Queen.

That spacing concern could determine which lineups Mosley is willing to use. Playing Watford beside multiple non-shooters would make the offense easier to defend. His best opportunity may come in groups featuring enough shooting to take advantage of his passing and interior touch.

Watford does not need to become an elite shooter. He must make enough open attempts to keep defenses honest. A return to the respectable percentages he produced during portions of his Portland and Brooklyn tenure would strengthen his case for consistent minutes.

Defense Will Determine His Rotation Role

The Pelicans are attempting to build a more disciplined defensive identity under Mosley. Watford’s size gives him theoretical versatility, but he must defend with consistency.

He can absorb contact from larger forwards. The challenge comes when quicker perimeter players force him to move laterally or when centers test him around the rim. Watford is not a high-level shot blocker, so positioning and communication will matter.

If he executes the scheme, rebounds and avoids unnecessary fouls, his offensive versatility becomes easier to use. If he struggles defensively, the crowded roster gives Mosley several alternatives.

An LSU Standout Returns to Louisiana

The signing also carries local significance.

Watford played two seasons at LSU from 2019 through 2021. He averaged 13.6 points and 7.2 rebounds as a freshman before improving to 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists during his sophomore season.

He went undrafted in 2021 but earned a two-way contract with Portland. The Trail Blazers later converted that agreement into a standard NBA deal. Watford also helped Portland win the 2022 NBA Summer League championship and earned championship-game MVP honors.

His return creates a natural connection between LSU supporters and the Pelicans. That story should generate enthusiasm, but Watford will still have to earn his role through performance.

What the Signing Means for the Pelicans Roster

New Orleans now has considerable competition across the forward positions. Murphy and Jones are foundational pieces. Williamson remains the team’s most powerful interior creator. Bey is entering an important contract season, while younger players such as Queen and Micah Peavy need developmental minutes.

Watford’s contract should not guarantee him a major role. It gives him an opportunity to win one.

The Pelicans can use training camp to determine whether his passing separates him from the other reserve forwards. His presence may also reduce the pressure to keep a less experienced player solely because of positional need.

This is the type of signing that improves competition without forcing the organization into a long commitment. If Watford earns a rotation spot, New Orleans receives value from a modest contract. If he does not, the one-year structure limits the damage.

Big Q’s Take

The Pelicans are buying versatility, experience and upside at a reasonable price.

Watford’s ability to rebound and create for teammates makes him more interesting than a standard end-of-bench forward. He can help second units play with better flow, and his LSU background gives the fanbase another reason to embrace the move.

However, the fit will depend on two areas: shooting and defense. The Pelicans cannot consistently surround Williamson with defenders who are comfortable abandoning the perimeter. Watford must also prove he can execute Mosley’s defensive system without becoming a matchup target.

This is not a franchise-changing acquisition. It is a smart, low-risk bet on a 25-year-old player who already owns 270 games of NBA experience.

Watford has come home. Now he must prove that his unusual point-forward game belongs in the Pelicans’ rotation.