Tag: E.J. Liddell

E.J. Liddell lands with third team in the past three months

On the move… again #GoBucks

Former Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell is on the move… again. You may recall Liddell was traded to the Atlanta Hawks from the New Orleans Pelicans on June 28. Just a month later, the Hawks sent the former Buckeye to the Phoenix Suns. However, his time didn’t last long in Phoenix either as Liddell was cut to make room for another roster move. It looks like he now has a new home once more.

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype has reported that the Chicago Bulls have signed Liddell who is an Illinois native. The Bulls are in the midst of a rebuild and the Liddell signing brings the offseason roster to 21 which is the maximum number allowed. He’ll still have some work to do to make the 15-man roster.

Liddell was selected by the Pelicans in the second round of the 2022 NBA draft but suffered a torn ACL that ended his rookie season before it had a chance to begin. He played sparingly in his return this past season, appearing in just five games for the Pelicans, picking up most of his playing time in the NBA’s G-League.

Liddell was limited to just 23 NBA minutes over eight games but averaged 17.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in the G League in 2023.

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E.J Liddell traded to another new team

Hopefully, Liddell can land somewhere where he can have a stable career soon. #GoBucks

Former Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell is on the move again. For the second time in about a month, the former All-Big Ten performer was traded. He was first shipped to the Atlanta Hawks from the New Orleans Pelicans on June 28. And just four weeks later, the Hawks have sent the U-Haul to Phoenix and the Suns.

Liddell was selected by the Pelicans in the second round of the 2022 but suffered a torn ACL that wiped out his rookie season. He received only spot duty in his return this past season, appearing in just five games for the Pelicans, picking up most of his playing time and development instead in the NBA’s G-League.

The Hawks inserted the former Buckeye start in five summer league games once he arrived there, but now it appears Liddell will have to start over again. Even more challenging are reports that the Suns may release the 6-foot, 6-inch ‘tweener soon to open up a roster spot.

Here’s to hoping Liddell can find somwhere stable to continue his professional basketball career soon.

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Former Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell gets traded

Wishing Liddell better luck in a new location. #GoBucks

Former Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell has been traded from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, according to muliple reports.

Liddell was originally selected by New Orleans with the No. 41 pick in the 2022 NBA draft after leaving Ohio State a year early. Since then though, he has struggled, first because of an ACL injury that wiped out his rookie season, then in coming back and finding enough minutes last season.

In fact, he appeared in just eight games during the 2023-2024 season, scoring just four points and pulling down five total rebounds, a far cry from what we saw from Liddell at Ohio State and in the NBA’s G-League.

In three seasons with Ohio State, Liddell averaged 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game and earned first-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-American during his junior year.

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Watch: Former Ohio State basketball star E.J. Liddell dresses early for Halloween

E.J. never wants to put that on again #GoBucks

The [autotag]New Orleans Pelicans[/autotag] held an open practice for fans on Sunday and it was much to former [autotag]Ohio State basketball[/autotag] star forward [autotag]E.J. Liddell[/autotag]’s chagrin.

The All-Big Ten performer was drafted in the second round by the Pelicans, but a knee injury stopped him from helping the team. Although he had never played a minute in the NBA, they signed him to a 3-year, $6.2 million dollar contract, showing they believed in his ability.

In what looks like tradition for New Orleans, it had multiple of its players dress up for the event on Sunday. This year it happened to be a hot dog costume. Check out the video below of Liddell not being too happy about the outfit selection for him.

Maybe a new nickname of “big dog” is boiling …

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Former Ohio State star E.J. Liddell re-signs with the New Orleans Pelicans

Liddell will continue his NBA journey with the team that drafted him #GoBucks

When forward [autotag]E.J. Liddell[/autotag] left the Ohio State basketball program early, many thought he would get picked later portion of the NBA draft’s first round.

The former All-Big Ten performer slid to the second round, where the New Orleans Pelicans picked him up with the No. 41 pick. Unfortunately, Liddell suffered a torn ACL during Summer League action, slowing down his route to the NBA.

Liddell showed enough to the Pelicans brass for them to still have faith in the former Buckeye, as they signed him to a 3-year deal worth $6.2 million. With some security, Liddell can continue getting back from his injury and not have to worry about where he will suit up next.

Hopefully, Liddell comes back stronger than ever and can show the NBA that he was slept on in the draft.

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Ohio State basketball offers 2024 small forward from New York

The Buckeye hoops teams sends an offer out to a NY small forward #GoBucks

Even though this [autotag]Ohio State[/autotag] basketball season hasn’t gone like many of us thought it would, it doesn’t mean that head coach [autotag]Chris Holtmann[/autotag] isn’t looking to the future.

Already with a commitment from 2024 Nevada point guard Juni Mobley, Holtmann is looking for a few others to complement the floor general’s play. That brings us to their latest offer, going out to New York small forward VJ Edgecombe.

At 6-foot, 5-inches, and 180-pounds, Edgecombe is a bit on the smaller side for the position but has the potential to be in a similar mold as former Buckeye star [autotag]E.J. Liddell[/autotag] in terms of playing bigger than his listed size. Edgecombe doesn’t have a very impressive offer list as he currently holds them from Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, St. John’s, and a few others.

It could very well be the case that Edgecombe is flying under the radar right now and will look to make his decision during his senior season.

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E.J. Liddell suffers torn ACL in NBA summer league

Wishing Liddell a speedy recovery! #GoBucks

Former Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell’s NBA career will have to wait.

After being selected with the No. 41 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft by the New Orleans Pelicans, Liddell was committed to proving everyone wrong and showing the world that he had the work ethic and skill set to have a long, productive career at the highest level.

The first step along that way was to take part in the NBA’s summer league to get valuable playing time before all the fun of the preseason and regular season takes place.

Liddell started the summer league off a bit slowly, but went down in a heap during the second game, leaving the game against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.  After an MRI today, the Pelicans released a statement confirming the injury as an ACL tear, leaving him out indefinitely.

Climbing through adversity is nothing new for Liddell. He has had to work hard for everything he’s received, and this is just another setback. In today’s day and age, coming back from a torn ACL is the norm, and we have no doubt one of the nicest and most competitive guys you’ll ever meet will bounce back better than ever.

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Schedule of former Ohio State basketball players taking part in the NBA Summer League

In case you want to watch some former Buckeyes as they take part in the NBA Summer League. #GoBucks

The Ohio State basketball program has churned out a ton of young talent to the NBA over the last few years, but that seems to be slowly changing. As it does, you can begin keeping track of former Buckeye players taking part in the NBA Summer League.

This year’s crop includes former Ohio State players E.J. Liddell, Malaki Branham, Duane Washington Jr, and former Buckeye turned Wisconsin Badger, Micha Potter.

For all you NBA types, we thought we’d provide a schedule of when you can see each play in the event you are into that sort of thing, especially as you cheer on Liddell and Branham and how well they might both translate to the next level.

Here’s a look at the schedule for each player so that you can follow along.

One scout weighs in on why E.J. Liddell slid in the NBA draft

Here’s why E.J. Liddell slid in the NBA draft according to one former scout. #GoBucks

If you followed the 2022 NBA draft this year, one of the Ohio State storylines was forward E.J. Liddell’s plight. He was forecast to be a first-round draft pick by almost every measure and mock draft out there.

However, as the picks went by and players continued to hear their name and walk across the stage, Liddell’s name did not appear pick after pick until the entire first round was gone, and then some. The 6-foot, 7-inch power forward with a polished game eventually got selected with the No. 41 overall pick in the second round by the New Orleans Pelicans, and we were all left wondering why.

Well, maybe we have an answer. According to one former scout, despite the varied game and experience Liddell has, he believes there was still reason for concern in some NBA scouts and executive circles. Michael VandeGarde gave Buckeyes Wire his take on why Liddell slipped thanks to our friends at Rutgers Wire.

“(He’s)Not a proven shooter and what is his real position for the NBA? (He) Lacks explosion and first step quickness…is really a power forward or undersized center, and can he really be that in the NBA?”

Look, we get it. Liddell is kind of in-between positions, but we’ve seen guys make that work before in the NBA right? I mean, all you have to do is another former Ohio State guy, Jae’Sean Tate as a player that wasn’t drafted because nobody felt like he fit into a neat little NBA-type box but has worked his way into a very, very productive player.

With the work ethic that Liddell has shown, and the skills and abilities he already possesses as a guy that has made himself into a defensive and offensive threat, don’t be surprised if he proves folks wrong again.

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Michael VandeGarde is a former NBA scout, having spent the past 18 seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers. He is currently involved with the innovative digital platform CoachTube, a portal that offers sports coaching courses from legendary coaches in the NFL, NBA and college sports.

WATCH: Go behind the scenes with Malaki Branham and E.J. Liddell at the NBA draft

The Ohio State Hoops Twitter account shared a short, behind-the-scenes video of the 2022 NBA draft with Malaki Branham and E.J. Liddell.

For the first time since 2007, the Ohio State basketball program saw two of its players selected in the NBA draft. And even though E.J. Liddell fell down the daft board further than most anticipated, it was still a night to remember, one where both players got to see their childhood dreams come true.

We’ve already shared a video of both Branham and Liddell as they heard their name called, but the Ohio State Hoops Twitter page shared an extended version of both with some short behind-the-scenes remarks and commentary.

It’s not a long video, but one that makes you proud to be an OSU basketball fan. The video is only about a minute long, so take just a little bit to reminisce on the 2022 NBA draft night that saw two Buckeyes have their moments.

We’d like to think that this is starting a new trend for Ohio State, but for that to happen some young guns and fresh faces will probably have to develop quickly and surprise us next season.

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