After signing him to a standard contract last season, the New Orleans Pelicans have waived small forward Matt Ryan.
Sources: The New Orleans Pelicans are waiving wing shooter Matt Ryan. Ryan averaged 5.4 points and shot 45.1 percent from 3-point range in 13 minutes a night over 28 games for Pelicans last season. pic.twitter.com/gbc2bZCRkK
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 23, 2024
The 27-year-old spent the entirety of last season in the Pelicans’ organization. In 27 games played with the team, Ryan averaged 5.4 points and 1.4 rebounds. Additionally, he shot 43.4% from the field and 45.1% from behind the three-point line.
In his three-year NBA career, Ryan has also played for the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The decision to move on from Ryan comes just a few days after the Pelicans signed Javonte Green. With this move, the Pelicans are back down to 14 standard contracts on the roster a little over a month before training camp.
New Orleans Pelicans Waive Sharpshooting Forward
What Does Matt Ryan Bring to the Table?
Ryan is a fantastic three-point shooter and can be a solid player for any team off the bench. He is streaky, but he is a legitimate threat off the bench when he is hot. Additionally, Ryan is not a lockdown defender by any means. However, the defensive effort is there, and at 6’7, he possesses good size to not be a liability.
The New York native is a solid player and can provide value on the court. If he goes unclaimed, Ryan will become an unrestricted free agent. It will be worth monitoring his status the rest of the way to see if any team picks him up.
The Pelicans’ Offseason Has Been Solid
Last season, the Pelicans ended with a 49-33 record. Ultimately, they earned the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and faced the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. The Pelicans got swept by the Thunder, though they were without Zion Williamson the entire series. Regardless, big changes were expected in New Orleans, which has mostly happened this offseason.
This summer, the Pelicans moved on from starting center Jonas Valanciunas, who signed with the Washington Wizards, and Naji Marshall, who joined the Dallas Mavericks. Additionally, they traded Larry Nance Jr., E.J. Liddell, and Dyson Daniels, to the Atlanta Hawks for Dejounte Murray. The Pelicans also added Daniel Theis and selected Yves Missi in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
On paper, the Pelicans look like they will probably be a better team than they were this past season. Additionally, with Williamson seemingly in the best shape of his playing career, the Pelicans should take the next step next season.
What’s Next for the Pelicans After Waiving Matt Ryan?
For much of the offseason, it seemed likely that the Pelicans would trade forward Brandon Ingram. However, he remains on the team with no immediate suitors known. They are most likely done with the bulk of their moves this summer. They will probably make minor moves to fill out their roster ahead of the 2024-25 season, however.
