The New Orleans Pelicans may not have made a ton of noise this offseason, but training camp still has a couple of roster fights worth keeping an eye on. With most of the roster already set and only two pathways still open, the real drama is in the margins: who grabs the last active roster spot, and who claims the final two-way slot.
One of the clearest competitions is Trendon Watford against Caleb Houstan for the final roster spot. Both are forwards, and both would need to earn their way onto the active roster.
Watford, signed recently to a one-year deal, only has a partially guaranteed contract, which gives New Orleans some flexibility if it wants to move on without taking a big hit. Still, he brings more experience than Houstan and, in that sense, probably offers the safer bet.
At 25, the 6-foot-8 point forward can pass, rebound and finish around the rim, which gives him a useful skill set for a lot of NBA teams.
The other battle is Kobe Bufkin versus Christian Koloko for the final two-way spot. They’re different players at different positions, but both are young enough to fit the kind of developmental stash teams use on those deals.
Bufkin enters camp with momentum after a strong Summer League run, and that matters. New Orleans has also been less than thrilled with the guard depth behind Jordan Poole and Jordan Hawkins, so Bufkin could give them another option if that group stalls.
Koloko, meanwhile, fits a different need. New Orleans wanted to add a defensive enforcer in the paint this offseason, and he checks that box.
The Pelicans’ frontcourt depth isn’t exactly loaded, even if the team has liked what it has seen from Derik Queen and Yves Missi. Even so, a shot-blocking presence in the lane is never a bad piece to keep around.
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