Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux) and Rob Mahoney of The Ringer (@RobMahoney) talk about major stories around the NBA.
They discuss how Houston’s exciting experiment has rejuvenated Russell Westbrook, Zion Williamson’s budding stardom, the 2021 free agent class and much more.
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Nicolò Melli has been added as an injury replacement for the Rising Stars Game at NBA All-Star Weekend. Melli, a native of Italy, will replace DeAndre Ayton (Bahamas) on Team World due to an ankle injury. Melli will join fellow Pelicans rookies Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Team World – Canada) and Zion Williamson (Team USA) in the Rising Stars Game, which will take place at the United Center on Friday, February 14 at 8:00 p.m.
Melli, 6-9, 235, has appeared in 42 games this season (six starts), averaging 6.1 points while shooting .373 from three-point range, ranking him 6th among rookies, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists. Over his last 13 games, Melli is averaging 8.3 points on .532 shooting from the floor, including .478 from three-point range.
Prior to joining the Pelicans, Melli spent 12 years overseas, most recently playing for Fenerbahçe (Turkey). Melli has becomes the sixth player in team history to be named to the Rising Stars game, joining Alexander-Walker and Williamson this season, as well as Chris Paul, Anthony Davis and Buddy Hield.
Melli is 29 years old.
With the New Orleans Pelicans rebuilding around Zion Williamson and presumably Brandon Ingram, there has been talk for months about the possibility of trading Jrue Holiday.
Both Holiday and the Pelicans have maintained that they would like him to remain with the team.
"I honestly feel like I'm built for this team, and the way that we've been able to come together has really been cool," Holiday told CBS Sports. "I feel like I'm committed to this team and the players. I know for me personally, I try not to let my teammates down, so every time I come out here I feel like I try to put on my hard hat and my armor and go out there and fight for them."
After a slow start to the season, the Pelicans are now within range of a playoff spot.
"It's been fun, just being able to grow together," Holiday said. "Going through tough times, like losing 13 straight and coming out of that and feeling like -- obviously there's an upside to that."
The New Orleans Pelicans are unlikely to trade Jrue Holiday by the trade deadline unless they receive an "overwhelming offer".
The type of offer it would take for the Pelicans to trade Holiday has yet to surface on the market.
Both Holiday and the Pelicans are comfortable playing out the remainder of the season and reassessing the situation in the offseason.
Holiday signed a five-year, $126 million contract with the Pelicans in 2017.
Alvin Gentry said that the New Orleans Pelicans need to get Zion Williamson the ball more often following their 117-109 loss to the Houston Rockets.
"Zion can't go four minutes without touching the basketball and that's on me. That's something that I've got to make sure that will never happen again. So I take responsibility for that. And if we're not gonna give it to him and not gonna execute, then we gotta have different people in the game," said Gentry following the loss.
Williamson finished the game with 21 points and 10 rebounds in 33 minutes.
Gentry added that the team can't use the excuse that they are still adjusting to Williamson.
"Nah, you gotta throw him the damn basketball. I mean it has nothing to do with playing together, figuring it out. He's got an advantage and we gotta find a way to get him the basketball down there. So I'm not buying the playing together or figuring out anything like that. We have to have him have touches in the fourth quarter."
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