Jaden Springer has found a new home one week after being released by the Utah Jazz. The former Celtics guard has signed a contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, the team announced. The terms of the deal were not released, but it’s safe to assume it’s for a league minimum deal heading into training camp this fall.
It will be the fourth team for Springer in the past six months after the Celtics dealt him away at the trade deadline in February. The Utah Jazz waived Springer last week due to a roster crunch and the fact that Springer was set to have a guarantee of $400,000 on his contract kick in. Instead, the 22-year-old hit the open market and found a new home with the Pelicans, where he will likely compete for a roster spot under new team president of basketball operations Joe Dumars.
The Celtics initially landed Springer at the 2024 trade deadline after giving up a second-round pick to land the defensive-minded guard. Springer ended up winning a title with the 2024 Celtics but only played in 43 games with the team over two seasons, posting 1.9 points and 1.0 rebounds per game before being dealt away this past winter. Boston packaged a second-round pick with Springer to send him to the Rockets in a salary dump and Houston immediately waived the guard amid a roster crunch.
Springer joined the Jazz shortly afterwards, ultimately signed a three-year contract that was largely non-guaranteed. He got some additional playing time at the end of the season in Utah, averaging 3.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 13.2 minutes per game. However, that play and his performance in Summer League was not enough to secure his roster spot amid a crowded depth chart in Utah filled with young players, which led Springer to free agency and ultimately New Orleans.
With Dejounte Murray sidelined to begin the year in New Orleans with a torn Achilles, a chance will be available for Springer to make the roster as depth as he joins a crowded backcourt that includes Jordan Poole, Jeremiah Fears, Jordan Hawkins and Jose Alvarado.
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