Former King Jimmer Fredette Signs With New Orleans
The New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to contract terms with guard Jimmer Fredette and forward Darius Miller, people familiar with the moves said Friday.
Two people confirmed Fredette's deal and one person confirmed Miller's to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the transactions have not been announced. One person said Fredette's contract would be for one season but did not discuss financial terms. Details on Miller's new deal were not discussed.
The acquisitions provide the Pelicans perimeter shooters they needed after Anthony Morrow's departure in free agency for Oklahoma City.
The 6-foot-2 Fredette averaged a modest 5.6 points in 49 games last season with Sacramento and Chicago, but shot nearly 48 percent from 3-point range. A former NCAA national player of the year with BYU, Fredette was picked 10th overall by Sacramento in 2011, and has averaged 6.9 points during his first three NBA seasons. He left the Kings when they bought out his contract during last season, then signed with the Bulls, for whom he played in only eight regular season games.
The 6-8 Miller was New Orleans' second-round pick in 2012. Last season, he averaged 4.4 points in 45 games, though his production spiked significantly when he received more consistent playing time at the end of the season. He scored in double figures in five of his final 12 games, including an 18-point performance at Oklahoma City on April 11. He was due to be a restricted free agent, but the Pelicans chose not to extend him a qualifying offer, allowing him to test the market before agreeing to return to New Orleans.
His decision means he'll remain teammates with All-Star forward-center Anthony Davis, who was also Miller's college teammate when the pair helped Kentucky win a national championship in 2012.
Updated July 18, 2014
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