Julian Reese got waived by the Nuggets. Days later he had a new NBA contract.
The Pelicans signed the Maryland product to a two-way deal on September 24, giving him a roster spot for the 2026-27 season and another chance to stick in a league that has been trying to shake him loose for two years.
The Path Has Been Anything but Smooth
Reese has bounced through multiple NBA organizations since leaving College Park. He was traded to Denver and then released. He has spent time developing in the G League system and has taken every opportunity that has come.
Keith Smith of Spotrac reported the terms plainly: “The New Orleans Pelicans have signed forward Julian Reese to a two-way contract.”
What a Two-Way Deal Actually Means
This is not a guaranteed roster spot in the traditional sense. Two-way players split time between the NBA club and its G League affiliate, with a capped number of active days at the top level.
It is also exactly how dozens of current rotation players got their start. Two-way contracts are the modern proving ground, and teams increasingly use them to develop bigs who need reps rather than spot minutes.
The Fit in New Orleans Makes Sense
The Pelicans have a recent history of frontcourt injuries that would embarrass a field hospital. Depth behind their starting bigs is not a luxury for this organization, it is a requirement.
Reese is a physical rebounder who competes on the glass and does not need plays run for him. That is precisely the profile a team wants on a two-way deal, because the role is defined the moment he checks in.
The Name Comes With Noise
Being Angel Reese’s brother means every transaction generates coverage that a typical two-way signing never would. His sister is a WNBA All-Star with the Atlanta Dream and one of the most discussed athletes in American sports.
That attention cuts both ways. It brings visibility to a player fighting for a roster spot, and it invites scrutiny that has nothing to do with his rebounding rate.
What He Has to Do Now
Two-way players earn standard contracts by being impossible to send down. That means dominating G League competition and being ready the moment an injury opens minutes.
Reese has the frame and the motor. What he has not yet shown across his NBA stops is the consistency to make a coaching staff comfortable playing him meaningful minutes in a close game.
New Orleans just gave him the runway to prove it. Given how his last few months have gone, he has every reason to treat this one like the last chance it might be.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.