Pelicans acquire forward Matt Ryan on a two-way contract off waivers

The New Orleans Pelicans are claiming recently waived forward Matt Ryan for their final two-way spot, per sources. Ryan, 26, was released last Friday by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Now, he is set to join New Orleans’ two-way players, forward Kaiser Gates and guard Dereon Seabron.

The 6-foot-6 wing went undrafted in 2020 out of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Ryan appeared in one game with the Boston Celtics in the 2021-22 season.

According to NBA betting sites, the New Orleans Pelicans hold 15th-ranked odds to win this season’s 2024 championship. Sportsbooks are showing better odds for the Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, and Sacramento Kings.

The New Orleans Pelicans are acquiring G/F Matt Ryan on a two-way contract off waivers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Ryan – 38.1 percent from 3-point range in 35 games last year – provides a wing shooter for Pelicans, who start season minus Trey Murphy and Naji Marshall.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 22, 2023

In Boston’s 139-110 win over the Grizzlies on April 10, 2022, the wing recorded three points and a steal. Of course, Matt Ryan signed a nonguaranteed, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers in September 2022.

On Nov. 2, 2022, in the Lakers’ 120-117 win against New Orleans, the Tennessee product scored a season-high 11 points in 19 minutes played. He finished 4-of-11 (36.4%) shooting from the floor and 3-of-9 (33.3%) beyond the arc.

New Orleans Pelicans add two-way forward Matt Ryan; Ryan to join forward Kaiser Gates, guard Dereon Seabron

In 12 games off the bench with Los Angeles, Ryan averaged 3.9 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 10.8 minutes per game while shooting 30.6% from the field and 37.1% from downtown. Ahead of last season’s Dec. 15 trade date, the Lakers waived Ryan to open a roster spot.

The New York native then inked a two-way deal with the Timberwolves on Dec. 7. In 22 appearances as a reserve with Minnesota last season, Ryan averaged 3.4 points and 8.2 minutes. Plus, he shot 42.4% from the floor and 38.8% from 3-point range.

Pelicans are signing Matt Ryan with their final two-way spot, source confirms.

As they did with Kaiser Gates, Pels go with a shooter for a two-way spot.

Not going with a big at that spot signifies Larry Nance and Cody Zeller will be good to go in the early part of the season.

— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) October 22, 2023

Ryan also spent time with the Iowa Wolves, Minnesota’s G League affiliate, in the 2022-23 season. In seven games, he averaged 19 points and career highs of 3.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 36.2 minutes per game, while shooting 35.3% from the field and 35.2% outside the arc.

The Timberwolves issued a two-way qualifying offer to Ryan in June, making him a restricted free agent. Although he signed the QO, Wolves brass expected more from the forward during training camp.

On Friday, Minnesota converted guard Daishen Nix’s Exhibit 10 deal into a two-way contract.

The Pelicans open their 2023-24 regular season this Wednesday at Memphis.