For Jimmer Fredette, the second coming was hardly different from his first tour of duty with the New Orleans Pelicans. And with that said, he now finds himself out of a job again, at least in the NBA.
Fredette, who played for the Pelicans last season, was actually looking forward to his new opportunity though it came with some hitches because he was signed up using the hardship exception clause.
That meant that Fredette could stay only if the Pelicans would release another player to meet the 15-man allowable roster teams are allowed to carry.
Sadly, Fredette wasn’t able to make the grade and such apparently showed, seeing Fredette playing in only four games and hardly showing something impressive.
The Pelicans are struggling right now, compounded with the injury on star player Anthony Davis who is bothered by a shoulder injury. Together with teammate Omer Asik, both are listed as questionable when New Orleans takes on the San Antonio Spurs this Friday.
With the team opting to waive Fredette, however, it could also indicate that one of their regular players in the sick bay could be returning soon.
Among the players on the injured list for the Pelicans include Norris Cole (ankle), Quincy Pondexter (knee), Tyreke Evans (knee) and Kendrick Perkins (pectoral). Whoever among the four would be making a return soon remains a mystery, but none is listed to play against the Spurs.
Unless another team shows interest in signing up Fredette, the 6-foot-2 guard will likely end up returning to the Westchester Knicks in the NBA D-League, the same team that drafted him with the no. 2 selection last month.
The recent cut is the second time that Fredette has been left out of a possible NBA tenure.
During the preseason, Fredette was signed by the San Antonio Spurs on a partially-guaranteed contract. The Spurs eventually cut him before the regular NBA season wars started.
The Pelicans are at the bottom part of the Western Conference standings though a lot of that has been attributed to its injury-riddled lineup.
Despite the entry of new head coach Alvin Gentry, the Pelicans were upbeat on repeating last year’s performance which saw them make the NBA playoffs.
At 1-11 and with the season still in its early stages, the Pelicans are hoping their walking wounded would be ready soon to help them rack up wins in the hope of making it to the NBA post-season once again.