Report: Pelicans sign Jimmer Fredette to 1-year deal

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The New Orleans Pelicans lost a wealth of perimeter shooting this week when Anthony Morrow split town and signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Looking to patch up that sudden hole on the cheap, the Pelicans have agreed to terms with shooting guard Jimmer Fredette, most recently of the Chicago Bulls, on a one-year deal for the league minimum, according to ESPN's Marc Stein. Fredette joins center Omer Asik, forward Omri Casspi, and guard John Salmons as other offseason additions for the Pelicans.  

After an electric college career at BYU, Fredette was taken 10th overall in the 2011 draft, but has failed to deliver on that billing in three NBA seasons, At 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, the undersized Fredette has shown minimal ability to defend at the pro level, and for a guy whose value comes almost exclusively at the offensive end, career averages of 6.9 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists won't blow anyone away. 

That said, Fredette has also managed to shoot 40.1 percent from deep for his career, and despite playing his fewest-ever minutes per game (10.6) in 2013-14, he was also at his most efficient, posting career bests in true shooting percentage (57.8) and PER (15.8). 

He likely won't be asked to do much more than space the floor and knock down open jumpers in New Orleans, something he's proven fairly capable of. At the league minimum, this is a low-risk signing for the Pelicans. It's Fredette who has a lot at stake. The 25-year-old was waived by the Sacramento Kings in the middle of last season, then played just 56 total minutes for the Bulls after they picked him up in March. If he can't stick in New Orleans, he may not be long for this league.