Training camp is about to tell the Pelicans a lot about Trendon Watford, and not just whether he can crack the rotation. The newly acquired forward is walking into New Orleans with something to prove, because his path to minutes is tied to two things the team badly wants more of: production on the glass and enough reliability to stay on the floor.
Watford arrives in Year 6 after going undrafted in 2021, but he has carved out a role for himself as a pro. A high school standout and an All-SEC player at LSU, he wasn’t the kind of prospect teams rushed to draft. Still, he’s shown he belongs at this level as a useful role player.
Across five seasons, he has averaged 7.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 51.5/32.5/76.1. His value starts with his passing for a player his size, plus the ability to score around the basket and get to the line. That’s the core of his game, and it’s what has kept him around.
The questions are pretty clear, though. Watford has not been a dependable rebounder, and his three-point shot has swung wildly from year to year.
He hit above 39% from deep in both the 22/23 and 23/24 seasons, though that came on about one attempt per game. Last season, that number fell all the way to 20.0%.
For a player listed at 6-foot-8, the rebounding concerns stand out even more. Per CleaningTheGlass, he has never finished above the 46th percentile in either offensive or defensive rebounding. That leaves the Pelicans asking him to do more in an area where they need help.
The first hurdle is simply surviving camp with his spot intact. Watford’s partially guaranteed deal leaves the door open for him to be cut if New Orleans doesn’t see a clear long-term fit. And with the Pelicans looking for more answers on the boards and on defense, that possibility is very real.
If he does make the team, the next challenge is earning a real role. The bench minutes he’s chasing will be contested, with Bryce McGowens, Karlo Matkovic and Jordan Poole among the players also fighting for opportunities.
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