Free agent point guard Norris Cole signed a 1-year, $3.03 million qualifying offer with the New Orleans Pelicans, reports Yahoo! Sports' Marc J. Spears.
Norris Cole signs 1-year, $3.03 million qualifying offer with Pelicans
Cole will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
The Pelicans had the right to match any offer Cole received this offseason after extending him the qualifying offer as a restricted free agent. By taking the offer, Cole is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, when he’ll be free to choose his next team.
Cole, 26, had a strong close to 2015 after a midseason trade sent him to New Orleans. The former Heat guard averaged nearly 10 points and three assists on 44 percent shooting from the floor and 38 percent behind the arc.
Cole was drafted by the Heat with the No. 28 pick of the 2011 draft and spent four seasons with them leading up to the trade. He mostly came off the bench behind Mario Chalmers and while he showed flashes, he never developed the consistency needed to become anything more than a bit player.
While New Orleans does have a handful of guards, including the returning Jrue Holiday, who missed nearly all of 2015 with injury, the team clearly liked Cole's production. Cole is no more likely to become a star than he was in Miami, but carving out a role as a trustworthy point guard is plenty for the Pelicans on a short-term deal.
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