The Pelicans Will Regret Letting Antonio Reeves Walk

Reeves’ rookie year was modest but flashed NBA potential. Once the injuries started piling up and the Pelicans’ season was lost, he got his audition and proved he belonged in the league.

In limited minutes, Reeves averaged seven points a game while shooting close to 40 percent from three-point range.

The Pelicans’ decision not to sign him to a two-way deal is discouraging, given the team’s ongoing struggle to surround three-point shooting alongside paint-dominant star Zion Williamson. But Joe Dumars is running the show now, and it looks like he’s determined to put his stamp on the team, for better or for worse.

This isn’t the first time the Pelicans have let a valuable player sign with another team after an impressive stint with the team. Let’s take a look at a few of these players and, oh, what could’ve been.

Seth Curry

The first player that comes to mind is Seth Curry. Before Steph’s older brother became an NBA regular, he was a scrappy sharpshooter seeking an opportunity. He got a shot with the Pelicans Summer League squad in 2015 and never looked back.

While he struggled from three-point range, he showed the ability to score in other ways, boosting his stock. His best performance came against the Milwaukee Bucks when he dropped 30 points.

Curry’s stellar play was rewarded, as he was named to the All-NBA Summer League Team. You’d think that the Pelicans would do everything in their power to lock down their sharpshooter, right?

Well, that didn’t happen. He eventually signed with the Sacramento Kings to a two-year, fully guaranteed deal. Curry went on to have a successful NBA career, providing elite three-point shooting for many teams, including the Kings, Mavericks, Trail Blazers, Sixers, and Nets.

Curry, who played 68 games for the Hornets last season, is currently a free agent looking for a team ahead of the 2025–26 season.

And how about this surprising fun fact: Seth Curry has a higher career three-point percentage than his brother Steph (at least for now).

Christian Wood

Wood will be remembered as a solid NBA player, and for good reason. His blend of size and shooting made him a dangerous threat on the offensive end.

Like many undrafted success stories, Wood spent a few years as just another G League player and occasional 10-day contract fill-in. During the 2018-2019 season, the Pelicans were seeking front-court help after long-time star Anthony Davis decided to sit out the rest of the year in hopes of getting traded.

Wood was dominant in the G League, averaging 29 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks a game for the Wisconsin Herd, the Milwaukee Bucks’ G League affiliate. After seeing action in only 13 games for the Bucks, he was waived near the end of the 2018-19 season. The Pelicans scooped him up for the remainder of the season, and Wood showed the rest of the league what he was capable of.

In eight games with the Pelicans, Wood averaged 16.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. His skill set was on full display, as he showed the ability to create his shot from the perimeter, rebound effectively, and even knock down some threes.

After seeing the potential Wood had, you’d think the Pelicans would have re-signed him to a team-friendly deal, right? Wrong again.

He ended up signing with the Detroit Pistons to a non-guaranteed deal and played his way into a big contract with the Houston Rockets. Wood then bounced around to the Dallas Mavericks and the L.A. Lakers, providing solid backup minutes to winning teams.

Wood is currently a free agent and is recovering from a knee injury. Whether or not he continues his NBA journey, Wood has cemented a solid career for himself. Moreover, his story will be remembered as a testament to determination and resilience.

Reeves Is the Latest Example of a Larger Phenomenon

The Pelicans have a history of talented players leaving before they put it all together.

In Reeves’ case, he did everything that was asked of him, as he showed the ability to be a solid floor spacer and microwave scorer. However, he remained overshadowed by former first-round pick Jordan Hawkins. The two guards have very similar play styles, as they are both pure shooters who struggle on the defensive end of the floor.

The Pelicans have a significant investment in Hawkins due to his high draft selection and guaranteed salary. This ultimately left Reeves as the odd man out, despite appearing to be a more well-rounded player.

You can argue that Hawkins has more upside, but he has not shown significant improvement since he was drafted in 2023. Nevertheless, it looks like the Pelicans are banking on Hawkins’ potential rather than the proven commodity in Reeves.

Reeves is the most recent example of the Pelicans letting young talent walk. It happened in 2015 with Seth Curry, in 2019 with Christian Wood, and history may repeat itself with Reeves joining the Hornets.

These “what could have been“ scenarios have left Pelicans fans cringing in the past. It’s just a matter of time before we find out if Reeves’ name will be added to the list of players who got away.