Jose Alvarado has rubbed off on the Pelicans.
The previous undrafted level guard has made a reputation for himself by turning into top-of-the-line steal artists within the NBA. On Saturday, the Pelicans signed Alvarado to a team-friendly deal that was one of many league’s greatest steals.
Per NBA insider Shams Charania, New Orleans and Alvarado agreed to a two-year, $9 million extension with a 2026-27 participant choice.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported that $2 million in beforehand non-guaranteed cash for the 2024-25 season additionally grew to become totally assured with the extension.
Since getting into the league undrafted by Georgia Tech in 2022, Alvarado has turn into a key participant for the Pelicans and a local fan favorite.
He completed sixth within the Sixth Man of the 12 months voting final season. In 18.4 minutes per recreation, Alvarado averaged 7.1 factors, 2.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per recreation whereas taking pictures a career-high 37.7 p.c from three-point vary.
Alvarado is one among a number of excellent defenders on the Pelicans. Together with ahead Herb Jones, who signed a four-year, $53,827,872 contract extension last offseason, he offers New Orleans two of the league’s greatest worth signings.
Jones completed fifth in Defensive Participant of the 12 months voting in 2023-24 whereas being named First Staff All-Protection for the primary time.
According to Stathead, Jones and level guard Dejounte Murray, whom the Pels acquired through commerce earlier this offseason, have led the league in steals for the reason that begin of the 2021-22 season, Jones’ rookie 12 months.
New Orleans went 49-33 in 2023-24, its greatest document for the reason that 2008-09 season. The Thunder swept it within the first spherical of the playoffs after it certified for the postseason because the No. 8 seed.
With star forwards Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram and guard C.J. McCollum rising younger expertise Trey Murphy III, the Pelicans have a deep roster that would make extra noise in 2024-25.
And due to the Pels’ savvy Alvarado extension, the nice occasions ought to proceed rolling past this season.
