Christian Koloko is getting another shot to stick in the NBA, and this one comes in New Orleans.
The former Lakers big man has agreed to a one-year contract with the Pelicans, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. After bouncing around since leaving Los Angeles, Koloko now heads to The Crescent City with a chance to fight for the final roster spot.
Koloko’s path has been a grind. The former Arizona standout and 2022 second-round pick averaged 2.3 points and 2.4 rebounds in 8.9 minutes per game for the Lakers before being waived last November. From there, he landed with the San Antonio Spurs G League affiliate, then picked up minutes with the Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks.
What he brings is clear enough: rim protection. Koloko, the former Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, will try to sell that skill to new head coach Jamahl Mosley, who may value that kind of defensive presence.
The problem is the depth chart in front of him. Derik Queen, Yves Missi and DeAndre Jordan are already in the Pelicans’ frontcourt, so minutes won’t come easy.
Still, Koloko at least has a path to the floor when the 2026-27 NBA season begins this fall.
For New Orleans, the move fits a larger attempt to steady a team that has been battered by injuries. Mosley is coming in after helping the Orlando Magic climb back from irrelevance, and the Pelicans are hoping he can bring some toughness with him.
Zion Williamson, who just turned 26, was healthier in 2025-26 and remains central to whatever comes next. Trey Murphy III is expected to keep turning heads if he isn’t traded, while Jeremiah Fears and Queen both bring promise of their own.
Koloko will report to a September training camp that could decide whether he stays in the picture. As he tries to carve out a role in New Orleans, the Lakers are moving into life after LeBron James.
Both teams are stepping into transitional stretches, and both will be watched closely as those changes unfold.
In Other News...
Former Pelicans Forward Josh Oduro Just Closed The Door On One Path
Josh Oduros next stop takes him well beyond the Pelicans orbit, after the former New Orleans forward spent time with the Birmingham Squadron in the NBA G League. For a player who had been working to carve out a pro role, the move keeps his career moving and gives him a fresh stage after his stint in the organizations developmental pipeline.
Oduros time with the Squadron offered a steady look at what he can bring as a big-bodied frontcourt piece, and he now heads overseas with a chance to reset his path. For New Orleans, it is another reminder of how quickly the back end of the roster can turn over, especially for players trying to turn G League minutes into a longer-term NBA foothold. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Just Sent Another Frustrating Message About Zion's Frontcourt Help
Christian Koloko is the latest big man to land in New Orleans as the Pelicans keep sorting through the edges of their training camp roster, and the move is another reminder of how unsettled the frontcourt picture remains. Drafted by Toronto in 2022, Koloko has already bounced through multiple NBA stops and arrives with the reputation of an athletic shot-blocker, the kind of low-risk addition teams make when they want to see if size and timing can translate into a real role.
For the Pelicans, though, the larger issue is what Kolokos signing says about the center room around Zion Williamson. New Orleans still looks light on proven interior help, with Karlo Matkovic, Derik Queen, Yves Missi and Koloko all in the mix, and the search for a more experienced, bruising presence continues to hang over the roster. Koloko gives them another body to evaluate, but not the sort of answer that would quiet the questions about how this group plans to protect the rim and support Williamson on the glass. [Read more 🡒]