The New Orleans Pelicans are making their final preparations for training camp, and this year, they are taking things on the road. Instead of staying in New Orleans, the team will travel to Nashville, Tennessee, while their home facility undergoes renovations. As camp approaches, the Pelicans signed three players—Isaiah Brockington, Keion Brooks Jr., and Galen Robinson Jr.—to bolster their roster ahead of the 2023-2024 season.
All three players signed Exhibit-10 deals, one-year non-guaranteed contracts for the league minimum, typically used to bring players in for training camp. Although most of these deals result in waivers before the season begins, they provide players with a valuable opportunity to showcase their skills.
Isaiah Brockington, who played briefly for the Pelicans last season, returns with some NBA experience under his belt. The 6-foot-4 guard scored four points in his lone appearance but was more productive with the team’s G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron. Brockington averaged 12.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists across 33 G League games, demonstrating his versatility on the floor.
Joining Brockington is his former G League teammate, Galen Robinson Jr., a 6-foot-1 guard. Robinson played in 22 games for the Squadron last season, posting averages of five points, two rebounds, and 2.7 assists. After going undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft, Robinson bounced between the G League and European leagues before signing with Birmingham.
Keion Brooks Jr. rounds out the trio of signees. An undrafted rookie, Brooks made his mark during the Summer League, averaging 9.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game for the Pelicans in Las Vegas. Standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing 210 pounds, Brooks is a versatile forward who can defend multiple positions. His athleticism and range earned him First-Team All-Pac-12 honors last season with the University of Washington.
In addition to these signings, the Pelicans recently brought back former guard Elfrid Payton on a training camp deal. A native of the New Orleans area, Payton is no stranger to the franchise, having played one season for his hometown team. In his Pelicans debut, Payton made a statement by recording a triple-double and later became the first Pelican to post five consecutive triple-doubles during that stretch.
Notably, the Pelicans didn’t add any traditional centers for camp, signaling their readiness to roll with a small-ball approach. Daniel Theis, rookie Yves Missi, and Trey Jemison will be the listed centers, but New Orleans is expected to rotate Zion Williamson, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, and Karlo Matkovic at the five position, giving them flexibility in their game plan.
After spending a week in Nashville, the Pelicans will return to New Orleans to host the Orlando Magic for their preseason opener on October 7. The rest of their preseason games will be played on the road before opening the regular season at home against the Chicago Bulls on October 23. With training camp just around the corner, the Pelicans are laying the foundation for what they hope will be a successful campaign.
