The New Orleans Pelicans have officially waived Matt Ryan and Adonis Arms, as confirmed by the NBA transaction log. This decision comes as the team finalizes its roster ahead of the upcoming season.
Ryan was initially claimed off waivers by the Pelicans on October 22, 2023. He was signed to a two-way contract shortly after. Ryan made his first NBA start against the Detroit Pistons on November 2, 2023. On April 13, 2024, he signed a standard contract with New Orleans.
Despite his brief stint with the team, Ryan’s journey has been eventful. He was waived by the Pelicans on August 24 but was re-signed three days later. However, his time with the franchise ended again when he was waived on October 10.
Last season, Ryan appeared in 28 games for the Pelicans, averaging 5.4 points and 1.4 rebounds in 13.9 minutes per game. His shooting ability had made him a valuable asset, particularly as a deep threat.
Arms, on the other hand, went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft. He initially played for the Denver Nuggets during the 2022 Summer League. Arms was invited to the Nuggets’ training camp but was waived shortly after.
One day after being waived by Denver, Arms signed with the Phoenix Suns on a training camp deal. He did not appear in any preseason games and was waived again. He found his footing with the Grand Rapids Gold, the Nuggets’ G League affiliate, on November 4, 2022.
On February 25, 2023, Arms was traded to the Memphis Hustle. He showcased his talent during the 2023 NBA Summer League with the Brooklyn Nets. Arms signed with the Memphis Grizzlies on October 18, 2023, but was waived just three days later.
Arms averaged 18 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 30.3 minutes per game for the Memphis Hustle last season.
After signing with the Pelicans on October 1, 2024, Arms hoped to secure a place on the roster. However, he was waived on October 10, 2024, before the regular season began. He has yet to appear in an official NBA game.
