As expected, Pelicans have officially given up on the great man That Gibsonteam announced today in a press release.
Gibson was sent from Memphis to New Orleans in the lineup trading for four players completed by the Grizzlies and Pelicans on Tuesday. The 17-year NBA veteran was included in the deal for cap purposes and received a partial guarantee of $148,828 so the Grizzlies could use him as a matching salary cap. The Pelicans will be on the hook for that money, but not the rest of his $3,815,861 salary.
Gibson, 41, was out of the NBA for the 2025-26 season opener, but took the Grizzlies by storm in February, serving as a veteran mentor to a young squad during the final six-plus weeks of the second half. After signing a two-year, minimum-salary deal that included a non-guaranteed second season, he played in 10 games for Memphis over the span, averaging 3.4 points and 2.7 rebounds in 9.7 minutes per night.
Will Guillory of The Athletic reported Tuesday that Gibson will be cut by New Orleans, but the team intends to hang on to the newly acquired swingman AJ Johnson to assess its potential suitability.
Following Gibson’s release, the Pelicans have 13 players, including Johnson, on guaranteed contracts, one (Trendon Watford) partially guaranteed, three on non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 deals and three on bilateral pacts, for a total of 20 players. Benedict Maturin expected to take the final spot on the 21-man offseason roster when he officially signs a a two-year, $16 million contract with the club.
As for Gibson, he will become an unrestricted free agent on Friday, provided he is not claimed on waivers. He will not be eligible to return to the Grizzlies, but can sign with any other NBA team.