Pelicans Decline Team Option For Didi Louzada, Make Louzada A Restricted Free Agent
The New Orleans Pelicans have declined their 2021-22 team option for wing Didi Louzada. The Pelicans then issued Louzada a qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agent.
Louzada was drafted in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft, and the Pelicans acquired his draft rights from the Atlanta Hawks in a draft-related trade. Louzada then stayed overseas with Sydney of the Australian NBL for two seasons.
The Brazilian wing joined New Orleans late in the 2020-21 season, after the NBL season completed. He signed a two-year deal, because that was all the Pelicans could offer at the time.
By declining Louzada's team option, New Orleans can now offer him a longer deal, and up his salary just slightly. With a very flexible summer that could see the Pelicans have over $30 million cap space, expect Louzada's situation to drag out a bit. New Orleans likely will re-sign him, but after they make their other roster decisions first.