New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Josh Hart (quad) is being listed as questionable to play Friday against the Sacramento Kings. Hart has not played since the opener, missing the past four games and has been listed as questionable in most, if not all of those contests. Hart should be nearing a return, but there is not much clarity on his progress. When Hart eventually returns, he will likely retake his starting spot from Herbert Jones. Trey Murphy III should also see less minutes off the bench when Hart returns.

New Orleans Pelicans small forward Josh Hart (quad) will remain on the bench for Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Hawks. This will be the fourth consecutive game he's missed. The 26-year-old suffered a right quad injury in the team's season opener. He was originally questionable for Wednesday's game, so he might be getting close to a return. His next chance to play will be on Friday against the Sacramento Kings. Trey Murphy III, Naji Marshall and Garrett Temple should all continue to fill in for Hart's absence. None of them are very enticing for DFS purposes.

New Orleans Pelicans small forward Josh Hart (quad) is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Hart suffered an injury to his right quadriceps in the team's season opener and he has missed the last two games. While he's been out, rookies Herbert Jones and Trey Murphy III have seen some extra opportunities, though neither has done much with them. Hart offered some solid versatility off the bench for the Pelicans last year. He played about 29 minutes per game and averaged 9.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 threes per game.

New Orleans Pelicans small forward Josh Hart (quad) has been ruled out for Saturday's contest against Minnesota as he continues to battle a right quad ailment. The news isn't particularly surprising, seeing as Hart entered the day with a doubtful designation. Trey Murphy III stands to continue seeing elevated minutes with the second unit while Hart is sidelined, while Brandon Ingram figures to receive the lion's share of minutes at the three. When healthy, Hart stands to be a significant contributor for the Pelicans, as evidenced by the hefty contract extension that he signed this past off-season. His next chance to return to action comes Monday in a rematch with the Timberwolves.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Josh Hart (quad) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Chicago Bulls. He played just 10 minutes before exiting Wednesday's season opener due to a quad issue. Trey Murphy and Naji Marshall should benefit with Hart sidelined on Friday. It's uncertain which of them is going to start in his place, assuming one of them gets the nod. Fantasy managers might have to wait until closer to tip-off to see who moves into the starting five.

New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Josh Hart (quad) is questionable to play Friday against the Chicago Bulls. Hart left Wednesday's game with what appeared to be a knee injury in just 10 minutes of play. Hart was diagnosed with tendonitis in his right quad and is now in danger of missing Friday's game. If Hart is unable to go, Naji Marshall, Kira Lewis Jr., Garrett Temple and Trey Murphy III are all candidates to start in his place.

New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Josh Hart (knee) left Wednesday's season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers after suffering a right knee injury. He is questionable to return. He started the game and logged 10 minutes before exiting. The fifth-year veteran went 2-for-2 with five points, two rebounds and one assist. If he's unable to return, Naji Marshall, Garrett Temple and rookie Trey Murphy III are candidates to see additional playing time.

Free agent guard Josh Hart is signing a three-year, $38 million deal to remain in New Orleans with the Pelicans. Last season, Hart averaged 9.2 points per game on 43.9 percent shooting, with 8.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists as well. He also shot 32.6 percent from three, and 77.5 percent from the free throw line. Hart played in 47 games but started just four of those. Hart could be in line for more minutes at small forward this season due to the overabundance of guards in New Orleans. Most fantasy managers should pass on drafting Hart, but in deeper leagues, he could be a key contributor if he is given a bigger role on the team, making him an intriguing late-round pick.

New Orleans extended a qualifying offer to guard Josh Hart, making him a restricted free agent. The price ranger was around $5.2 million, and it would allow the Pelicans to match offers from other clubs when negotiations begin on August 2. The 26-year-old was one of the most effective options in the league off the bench last season, finishing with 9.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. Hart has had issues staying healthy over the years, and he's had some rough nights from a shooting standpoint. However, if he can receive a more prominent role moving ahead, he has the potential to be an everyday fantasy option.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers are acquiring All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards for three players and the rights to first-round pick Isaiah Jackson. According to two people with knowledge of the deal, the Lakers are trading Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell to Washington for Westbrook, who is a Los Angeles native and helped lead UCLA to a pair of Final Four appearances. The Lakers had the 22nd overall pick in Thursday's draft and selected Jackson, a 6-foot-11 forward from Kentucky. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal can't be officially announced until Aug. 6, when the salary cap becomes official and teams can also begin making moves for the upcoming season. The Lakers will also receive second-round picks from the Wizards in 2024 and '28. The Wizards also aren't holding on to Jackson. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced that Jackson’s rights were traded by the Lakers to... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers are acquiring All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards for three players and the rights to first-round pick Isaiah Jackson. According to two people with knowledge of the deal, the Lakers are trading Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell to Washington for Westbrook, who is a Los Angeles native and helped lead UCLA to a pair of Final Four appearances. The Lakers had the 22nd overall pick in Thursday's draft and selected Jackson, a 6-foot-11 forward from Kentucky. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal can't be officially announced until Aug. 6, when the salary cap becomes official and teams can also begin making moves for the upcoming season. The Lakers will also receive second-round picks from the Wizards in 2024 and '28. This is the second time in three years that the Lakers have made a significant offseason trade. They acquired Anthony Davis from New Orleans... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers are acquiring All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards for three players and this year's first-round draft pick. According to two people with knowledge of the deal, the Lakers are trading Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell to Washington for Westbrook, who is a Los Angeles native and helped lead UCLA to a pair of Final Four appearances. The Lakers have the 22nd overall pick in Thursday's draft. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal can't be officially announced until Aug. 6, when the salary cap becomes official and teams can also begin making moves for the upcoming season. The Lakers will also receive second-round picks from the Wizards in 2024 and '28. This is the second time in three years that the Lakers have made a significant offseason trade. They acquired Anthony Davis from New Orleans in 2019 for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and three first-round... [More]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Zion Williamson takes little comfort in how close the New Orleans Pelicans came to qualifying for the postseason. If anything, the 20-year-old All-Star put the club on notice about the urgency with which he'd like New Orleans to approach this offseason. “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is kind of insane, so I’m not going to going to sit here and say we’re close,” Williamson said. “The reality of it is it was very disappointing not to be a part of the play-in tournament and stuff. But we just got to come in and just be better. That’s just me being real.” Those comments ran somewhat counter to the narrative promulgated by Pelicans chief basketball executive David Griffin, who saw his team as one that looked far more competitive that its 31-41 record during coach Stan Van Gundy's first season with the club. The Pelicans blew 14 double-digit leads and had a rash of late-season injuries to key players, including Williamson, before winding... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — New Orleans star Zion Williamson is sidelined indefinitely with a fractured left finger, a major blow to the Pelicans' run at a Western Conference play-in spot. The 20-year-old forward averaged 27 points and 7.2 rebounds in 61 games and the injury comes before the Pelicans opened a five-game trip against certain or potential playoff teams. The Pelicans made the announcement Friday before they played the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia 76ers. The Pelicans said a timetable for Williamson’s return would be determined upon further evaluation. He appeared to hurt the finger trying to grab a rebound Tuesday against Golden State. Pelicans vice president of basketball David Griffin ripped the NBA and its officiating for not doing more to protect their franchise player. “I'm really frustrated because this was avoidable,” he said. “We told the NBA through every means available to us, through sending in film, through speaking to everybody in the officials department, everybody... [More]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Zion Williamson and the mercurial New Orleans Pelicans may yet have something to say about the NBA postseason. San Antonio’s recent five-game skid has helped the Pelicans pull within 1 1/2 games of the final Western Conference play-in spot with six games to go. Meanwhile, the Pelicans have shaken off seemingly back-breaking losses to win three out of four, with their past two victories each requiring fourth-quarter comebacks. “It says a lot about our character,” Williamson said after Tuesday night's victory over Golden State. “We’ve been resilient all year long and we’re not going to stop now.” The next challenge for the Pelicans requires taking their banged-up squad on the road for five games against certain or potential playoff teams. The trip starts Friday at Eastern Conference leader Philadelphia, where Pelicans second-leading scorer Brandon Ingram will be out of the lineup with a left ankle sprain. It's also unclear when Ingram will return after that. The Pelicans... [More]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans Pelicans All-Star Zion Williamson was scratched from the lineup shortly before the club's game against Miami on Thursday night because of a toe injury. Williamson missed just his second game of the season on the same day he was picked to play for Team Durant in Sunday's All-Star Game. It’s unclear how the injury might affect Williamson’s status for the All-Star Game. Williamson had played in 34 of New Orleans' first 35 games this season, averaging 25.6 points an 7.2 rebounds in a little more than 33 minutes per game. With the 6-foot-6, 280-pound Williamson out, Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy opened the game against the Heat with a smaller, three-guard lineup that included the 6-5, 215-pound Josh Hart on the floor in place of Williamson. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Restricted free agent Brandon Ingram has agreed to a five-year, $158 million contract with the New Orleans Pelicans. Ingram's agents, Jeff Schwartz and Jordan Gertler of Excel Sports Management, confirmed the deal on Tuesday to The Associated Press. Ingram is the NBA’s reigning most improved player after averaging a team-high 23.8 points in his first season with the Pelicans. The 23-year-old Ingram, a 2016 second overall draft choice by the Los Angeles Lakers, was dealt to New Orleans during the 2019 offseason as part of a blockbuster trade that sent perennial All-Star Anthony Davis to the Lakers. New Orleans also received guards Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart, as well as multiple draft picks in that deal. The 6-foot-7 Ingram this season developed into an effective and reliable scorer from the perimeter as well as on dribble drives. He shot a career best 39.1% from 3-point range but also routinely finished above the rim in the free-flowing, up-tempo offense the Pelicans ran... [More]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Restricted free agent Brandon Ingram has agreed to a five-year, $158 million contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, said a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to the Associated Press Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the contract, first reported by ESPN, has not been announced. Ingram is the NBA’s reigning most improved player after averaging a team-high 23.8 points in his first season with the Pelicans. The 23-year-old Ingram, a 2016 second overall draft choice by the Los Angeles Lakers, was dealt to New Orleans during the 2019 offseason as part of a blockbuster trade that sent perennial All-Star Anthony Davis to the Lakers. New Orleans also received guards Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart, as well as multiple draft picks in that deal. The 6-foot-7 Ingram this season developed into an effective scorer from the perimeter as well as on dribble drives. He shot a career best 39.1% from 3-point range but also routinely finished above the rim in the free-flowing,... [More]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Restricted free agent Brandon Ingram has agreed to a five-year, $158 million contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, said a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to the Associated Press Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been ann Ingram is the NBA’s reigning most improved player after averaging a team-high 23.8 points in his first season with the Pelicans. The 23-year-old Ingram, a 2016 second overall draft choice by the Los Angeles Lakers, was dealt to New Orleans during the 2019 offseason as part of a blockbuster trade that sent perennial All-Star Anthony Davis to the Lakers. New Orleans also received guards Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart, as well as multiple draft picks in that deal. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Restricted free agent Brandon Ingram has agreed to a five-year, $158 million contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, said a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to the Associated Press Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been ann Ingram is the NBA’s reigning most improved player after averaging a team-high 23.8 points in his first season with the Pelicans. The 23-year-old Ingram, a 2016 second overall draft choice by the Los Angeles Lakers, was dealt to New Orleans during the 2019 offseason as part of a blockbuster trade that sent perennial All-Star Anthony Davis to the Lakers. New Orleans also received guards Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart, as well as multiple draft picks in that deal. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports