Restricted free agent point guard Norris Cole accepts the one-year qualifying offer from the New Orleans Pelicans, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN. Cole also possesses the right to veto trades should he be involved in one.
Being a restricted free agent, the two-time champion was unable to find a new deal and has now agreed to take the $3.03 million qualifying offer from the Pelicans, meaning Cole will become an unrestricted free agent next summer in which he is expected to receive a long-term deal.
Cole, 26, was acquired by New Orleans at the trade deadline last season in a three-team deal that sent Goran Dragic and his brother Zoran to the Miami Heat, while the Phoenix Suns received Danny Granger, John Salmons, and a couple of first-round picks, and the Pelicans attained Shawne Williams and Justin Hamilton in addition to Cole.
With the Pelicans, Cole became a crucial part to the team’s playoff run last year, as he averaged 9.9 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.8 rebounds per contest while shooting a remarkable 37.8 percent from three-point range. The four-year man out of Cleveland State adequately helped New Orleans fill in the void for the injured Jrue Holiday.
Cole is again expected to play a major role off the bench this upcoming season for new head coach Alvin Gentry, who will implement an up-tempo offensive system.
Retaining Cole was certainly important for the Pelicans since they needed more depth at the point guard position. With Holiday expected to be fully healthy this season, he and Cole will share time at the one position.
On Monday, New Orleans agreed to sign Chris Douglas-Roberts to a two-year deal, and now with the re-addition of Cole, the Pelicans roster stands at 17 as they are slowly nearing completion of their training camp team.
