The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has signed guard Didi Louzada to a multi-year contract. 

Louzada, 6-5, 210, has played the last two seasons for the Sydney Kings (NBL Australia), where he appeared in 45 games and averaged 10.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.

Selected with the 35th pick in the 2019 draft by Atlanta, Louzada’s draft rights were acquired by New Orleans along with draft rights to Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jaxson Hayes, in exchange for the draft rights to De’Andre Hunter, Solomon Hill, and a future second-round draft pick on July 6, 2019.

The Brazilian native appeared in four games as a member of the Pelicans’ Summer League team in 2019, averaging 11.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.

Zion Williamson spoke profusely about his joy of playing at Madison Square Garden following his first NBA game at the venue. Williamson also played at MSG while with Duke. 

"I think it's something to watch down the road," said Adrian Wojnarowski. "I think if you follow Zion Williamson closely, he doesn't just talk to talk. He's pretty particular in what he says and when he says it.

"He's a long ways away from free agency. He's only in his second year in the NBA. But I think the way the Knicks have been rejuvenated, I don't think it was completely by accident. At the beginning of that clip, he said 'Hey, I'm glad you asked that.' He was clearly waiting for that question. Something to watch down the road."

Williamson cannot become a restricted free agent until 2023 and an unrestricted free agent until 2024.

Williamson is averaging 26.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists this season.

The New Orleans Pelicans are set to sign Didi Louzada to a multiyear deal, sources told Olgun Uluc and Andrew Lopez of ESPN.

Louzada, who currently plays in the NBL's Sydney Kings, was acquired with the No. 35 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

The Pelicans have until April 27 to sign another player to their roster.

Since Louzada is a draft pick of the Pelicans, his tax hit for his year would count as zero years of service. 

The New Orleans Pelicans discussed Lonzo Ball with several teams before the trade deadline with the Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks among the teams showing interest, sources tell ESPN.

Some executives came away from those talks with the impression that Ball might be made available in a sign-and-trade in the offseason as a restricted free agent.

The Pelicans, however, had indeed expressed interest in keeping Ball. 

Ball is averaging 14.5 points and 38.4% from 3 on 8.1 attempts per game, all career highs.

The Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks are considered the top contenders for Lonzo Ball should he leave the New Orleans Pelicans this summer as a restricted free agent.

The Knicks project to have the most cap space in the NBA in 2021.

The Bulls, however, had more intensive trade discussions at the deadline with the Pelicans on a deal for Ball than the Knicks. New York only "made a very light push for Ball."

New Orleans is expected to decline to match any offer for Ball over $20 million per season due to their preference for Kira Lewis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. 

The New Orleans Pelicans do not have immediate plans to sign Isaiah Thomas to a second 10-day contract. Thomas played in three games with New Orleans, averaging 7.7 points.

Thomas could be signed at a later date.

New Orleans has two weeks before it needs to add another player to the roster.

"I haven't run into a veteran guy more grateful for an opportunity to play in the league in my entire time in the league. He's been unbelievable here," Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy said after Monday's game. "To see him go in, even for a few minutes, make a shot, get the appreciation of the fans, I hope he heard it. A lot of times you don't when you're out there playing. I hope he heard it. I hope he enjoyed it. Because he certainly deserved it.

"I feel privileged that I've gotten the opportunity to coach him even for a very short amount of time."

The New Orleans Pelicans will sign James Nunnally to a Two-Way contract.

Nunnally hasn't played in the NBA since the 18-19 season, most recently with the Houston Rockets.

Nunnally played for Fenerbahce Ulker in Turkey during the 19-20 season.

Zion Williamson had 37 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists while playing point guard in the New Orleans Pelicans' 101-94 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.

With Lonzo Ball out due to injury, Stan Van Gundy decided that he was going to play Williamson "at the point all night."

"He had the ball in hands all the time and the ability to make plays and everything else," said Van Gundy.

Williamson said that playing point guard felt natural to his game.

"I've been playing the game since I was 4. At this point, it just feels natural. I'm still learning, but certain things just feel natural," said Williamson.

The 20-year-old Williamson brought up the ball 35 times in the game, breaking his previous best of 25. That number includes bringing the ball up 12 times in the fourth quarter.

Van Gundy added that he envisions Williamson playing point guard more often in the future.

"We want to get him more experience with that stuff going forward because I think that's where his future is in this game."

Isaiah Thomas is returning to the NBA after 14 months, signing a 10-day contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.

"I was always going to get back no matter what," Thomas told reporters on Tuesday morning. "I think with me and the mindset, if you ever have doubt, you shouldn't be doing anything that you're doing.

"Obviously I'm human and some days it was hard to get up than others and continue to work without seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. But I have the utmost faith and the utmost confidence in myself. Things have never been easy for me, why would they start now?"

Thomas underwent a hip resurfacing procedure last May to help alleviate pain in his hip and he's starting to feel like his old self now.

"I'm 102%. I'm more than good," Thomas said. "This is the best I ever felt since before I got injured. It's not even a question no more. Every day I wake up with a smile on my face because honestly I never thought I would feel this good again and feel back to normal. Physically I'm ready. Mentally I'm ready. And I'm just happy to really be here."

Isaiah Thomas will miss the New Orleans Pelicans game against the Houston Rockets on Sunday due to the league's health and safety protocols.

Thomas, who signed with the Pelicans last week, will join the team on Monday.