Liddell has been busy in the gym with several of his Pelicans teammates ahead of the start of training camp next month.
New Orleans Pelicans rookie EJ Liddell on Wednesday was pictured practicing with several teammates ahead of the start of training camp next month.
Liddell, the 41st pick in the 2022 NBA draft, did not play last season after suffering a torn right ACL in summer league. He managed just two appearances with the Pelicans in Las Vegas before sustaining the injury on July 11, 2022.
The former Ohio State All-American was eventually cleared to play with the Pelicans in summer league this past July. He averaged 12.8 points and three rebounds on 55.2% shooting from the field in four games. He finished off his stay on July 16 with 23 points.
After missing last season, Liddell appears to be set to participate in training camp next month. He has had the opportunity to get some work in with his new teammates, which should help ease the transition ahead of his first healthy year in the league.
The Pelicans open the preseason on Oct. 10 versus Orlando.
Liddell missed the entire season after suffering a torn ACL last year in the Las Vegas Summer League.
New Orleans Pelicans rookie EJ Liddell said on Friday his plan is to play with the team in summer league as long as there are no setbacks in his recovery from a torn right ACL.
Liddell, who suffered the injury while playing in the Las Vegas Summer League, missed the season after undergoing surgery in late July. He is progressing in his rehab and was seen putting up shots with the team toward the end of the season.
It was the first major injury for Liddell at any level of basketball. He is beginning to gain strength back in his knee and will start 1-on-1 drills this week as he ramps up his on-court work.
“It was definitely difficult, mentally and physically, just pushing through things early in the rehab process,” Liddell said. “It has been nine months, so I feel pretty normal but just going out there and feeling comfortable with myself mentally.”
The Pelicans signed Liddell to a two-way contract in October ahead of the start of the season. He wasn’t guaranteed a roster spot as a second-round pick but the organization valued his addition through the draft and wanted to keep him on the roster.
Liddell was the 41st pick in the NBA draft last year after a decorated junior year at Ohio State. He was a consensus All-American after averaging 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.5 assists. He led the Big Ten in blocks and was ninth in the country in free throws (169).
He was able to learn throughout the year with the team, despite being injured. He had the opportunity to get to know his teammates and observe practices and games from afar.
“I’ve taken a lot of little mental notes I’m going to use for myself,” Liddell said. “The talent level that this league has just seeing it in person and being on the bench just watching guys out there is definitely exciting to see. I know what it takes to be great.”
Liddell underwent surgery in July to repair a torn right ACL suffered in the Las Vegas Summer League.
New Orleans Pelicans forward EJ Liddell appears to be progressing in his rehabilitation from a torn right ACL. The rookie was spotted doing on-court work.
Liddell, the 41st pick in the draft, suffered the injury on July 11 while playing in the Las Vegas Summer League. He had surgery in late July to repair the tear and is expected to miss the majority of the season recovering from the injury.
The 22-year-old was seen doing some shooting and other light work after practice on Tuesday, according to Will Guillory of The Athletic. Liddell hasn’t been seen much this season, but the appearance at practice is certainly a positive sign that he is on track in his rehab.
Some positive injury news:
EJ Lidell is in here getting shots up after practice. He's not moving around much, but he is doing some on-court stuff. Don't think we've seen that yet from him.
The Pelicans signed Liddell to a two-way contract in October ahead of the start of the season. He wasn’t guaranteed a roster spot as a second-round pick but the organization valued his addition through the draft and was surprised he was still on the board.
Liddell, who was a consensus All-American, averaged 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.5 assists in 32 games last season as a junior at Ohio State. He led the Big Ten in blocked shots and was ninth in the country in free throws made (169) and seventh in attempts (221).
Liddell will miss significant time this season after tearing his ACL in the Las Vegas Summer League.
New Orleans Pelicans rookie EJ Liddell on Sunday signed a two-way contract ahead of the start of the regular season, the team announced.
Liddell, the 41st pick this year, suffered a torn right ACL on July 11 playing in the Las Vegas Summer League. He had surgery in late July to repair the tear and is expected to miss the majority of the season recovering from the injury.
He averaged four points, four rebounds and one assist in two games.
The Pelicans were expected to eventually sign Liddell to a contract, despite suffering the injury. The organization valued his addition to the roster through the draft and was surprised he was still available on the board at No. 41.
Liddell, who was a consensus All-American, averaged 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.5 assists in 32 games last season at Ohio State. He led the Big Ten in blocked shots and was ninth in the country in free throws made (169) and seventh in attempts (221).
He wasn’t guaranteed to have a roster spot this year as a second-round pick but the Pelicans opted to sign him to a two-way contract. The team is certainly high on his potential and will stick by him as he goes through the rehab process.
New Orleans opens the season on Wednesday versus Brooklyn.
Liddell, the 41st pick this year, had surgery in late July to reconstruct the torn ACL in his right knee suffered in the Las Vegas Summer League. He is expected to miss significant time recovering from the injury but could return to play at some point this season.
The 21-year-old hadn’t signed a contract with the Pelicans prior to the injury, and he is not guaranteed a roster spot as a second-round pick. The team holds his rights in the meantime and could look to sign him once he is cleared to play.
Here is the situation with Liddell, according to the report:
Although Liddell remains unsigned, the expectation inside the Pelicans organization is that he will either be on a standard contract or two-way deal during the 2022-23 season. Signing Liddell to a two-way contract or standard contract would require the Pelicans opening up a roster spot via trade or by waiving a player.
The Pelicans were ecstatic to draft Liddell this year and were quite surprised he was still available at 41. The team will work with him as he goes through the rehabilitation process in order to get him signed onto the roster in some capacity.
The team did not put a timetable for him to return to the court.
Liddell, who was a consensus All-American, averaged 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.5 assists last season at Ohio State. He led the Big Ten in blocked shots and was ninth in the country in free throws made (169) and seventh in attempts (221).
The 41st pick suffered the injury on July 11 during his second game in the Las Vegas Summer League.
New Orleans Pelicans rookie EJ Liddell underwent surgery this week to reconstruct the torn ACL in his right knee, the team announced on Tuesday.
Liddell, the 41st pick, suffered the injury on July 11 during his second game in the Las Vegas Summer League. He attempted to gain position down low but his right leg buckled and he fell to the court. He needed assistance walking off and was unable to put any weight on his leg.
The team announced the following day that an MRI confirmed the extent of the injury and that he would be out indefinitely. He underwent surgery on Monday, which was performed in New Orleans.
Liddell averaged four points, four rebounds and one assist.
Liddell hadn’t signed a contract with the Pelicans prior to the injury and is not guaranteed a roster spot as a second-round pick. He will miss extensive time rehabbing the injury but could be ready to play at some point in early 2023.
Several rookies have shown tremendous promise in a limited sample, but others haven’t been quite as fortunate.
The incoming rookie class has shown tremendous promise in a limited sample size during the Las Vegas Summer League with several notable players turning in strong performances.
No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero was electric in his first two games before the Orlando Magic opted to shut him down for the remainder of their stint in Las Vegas, averaging 20 points, six assists and five rebounds. The team ultimately wanted to get a better look at other players on the roster and will rest him, as a result.
Just behind Banchero on the draft board, the likes of Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith Jr., Keegan Murray and several others have also had strong showings during their time on the court.
Others haven’t been quite as fortunate as their peers.
At least nine first-year players have been limited or ruled out of games entirely due to injuries or other related issues. The list includes several first-rounders: Jaden Ivey (ankle), Shaedon Sharpe (shoulder), Dyson Daniels (ankle) and Jeremy Sochan (Covid-19) among others.
Some had various ailments prior to summer league, such as Walker Kessler (toe), Patrick Baldwin Jr. (ankle) and Ryan Rollins (foot) that have prevented them from playing. However, in the case of four players, their injuries occurred in Las Vegas.
Pelicans second-round pick EJ Liddell on Monday suffered a torn ACL in his right knee versus the Hawks. (Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports)
Teams are handling injuries differently now than in the past.
The strategies involved oftentimes do not sit well with observers of the sport. Fans want to see their favorite players on the court but with teams investing vast resources into these players, and millions of dollars in contracts, priorities have shifted in order to be cautious.
The Magic’s decision to rest Banchero after just two games was met with scrutiny by some. However, the team, in consultation with Banchero, agreed it would be best to limit him in summer league and made the appropriate move.
Though summer league games pale in comparison to the regular season, teams’ strategies to be cautious with their draft picks offer a glimpse into the general thinking of front offices. They want to protect players and are reacting accordingly.
Simply put, teams will continue to do what’s best for their players to maximize their long-term health and availability and that philosophy will likely continue for years to come.
Liddell averaged four points, four rebounds and one assist in two games with the Pelicans in summer league.
New Orleans Pelicans rookie EJ Liddell suffered a torn ACL in his right knee and will be out indefinitely, the team announced on Tuesday. An MRI confirmed the injury.
Liddell, the 41st pick last month, suffered the injury in the Pelicans’ win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday. He attempted to gain position down low but his right leg buckled and he fell to the court. He needed assistance walking off and was unable to put any weight on his leg.
He will undergo surgery to address the injury at a later date.
The contest was just the second of summer league for Liddell. He recorded two points, four rebounds and one block in his debut on Saturday and followed that up with six points, four rebounds and two assists prior to leaving on Monday.
Liddell hadn’t signed a contract with the Pelicans prior to the injury and is not guaranteed a roster spot as a second-round pick. The team and Liddell will now work to determine the next course of action but the news is a tough blow for the 21-year-old just starting off in the NBA.
