The Pelicans took their time, but it appears they'll be keeping the versatile Josh Hart in the fold after all.
The guard/forward is on the precipice of signing a 3-year, $38 million contract to stay in New Orleans, according to a report from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Hart, who was part of the trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Lakers, was a key piece for the Pelicans off the bench in 2020. The 26-year-old averaged 9.2 points and 8 rebounds while often being asked to defend the opponent's best backcourt scorers.
Hart was especially impactful on the glass, ranking among the top rebounders for non-centers. Hart logged four games last season with 13 or more rebounds, his top performance coming with 20 points and 17 rebounds in a win over the Houston Rockets. Hart was lost in the latter portion of the season after suffering the same thumb ligament injury then-Saints QB Drew Brees suffered in the 2019 season.
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Hart and former Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball were both restricted free agents this season, and both were extended qualifying offers that allowed New Orleans to match any offers from other teams. Ball was sent to the Chicago Bulls in a sign-and-trade that returned point guard Tomas Satoransky, forward Garrett Temple and a second-round pick. Hart's qualifying offer was at $5.2 million, making his $12.6 million annual salary on the reported new deal a significant raise.
The Pelicans have been active this offseason, hiring former Phoenix Suns assistant Willie Green as its new head coach, trading Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe and adding center Jonas Valanciunas.
The team also acquired point guard Devonte' Graham in a sign-and-trade with the Charlotte Hornets, and drafted Virginia forward Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones, both of whom were key pieces on the team's Summer League roster that has gone unbeaten at the annual offseason tournament with largely first- and second-year players.
Both Hart and Ball were past Summer League MVPs during their time with the Lakers.
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