Former Tennessee guard Jaden Springer was waived by the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, according to a report from Will Guillory of The Athletic.
Springer signed a contract with New Orleans on July 31 and went through training camp with the Pelicans throughout the fall. The former Vol did not go through Summer League with New Orleans, but he did play in two preseason games for the organization. He averaged 3.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in just under seven minutes on the court per game.
Springer was one of three players on the Pelicans’ bench to not see action during New Orleans’ 128-122 loss to the Grizzlies in Memphis on Wednesday’s slate on opening day action. One day later, the Pelicans made the call to waive the former Tennessee guard.
New Orleans used the open spot to sign free agent center DeAndre Jordan to mask some injury concerns to its bigs.
Springer spent one season at Tennessee during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He started 15 of 25 games, averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game for Rick Barnes’ team. The North Carolina native was then drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 28th overall pick in the draft.
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Springer spent the majority of his rookie season with Philadelphia’s G-League team, the Delaware Blue Coats, and even helped them capture the NBA G-League championship in his second season. Springer was named the championship game’s MVP in the process. Less than a year later, the Sixers traded Springer to the Boston Celtics. He was on the Celtics’ 2024 NBA Championship squad that defeated the Dallas Mavericks in just five games.
In February 2025, Springer was traded to the Rockets and subsequently waived. He was picked up by the Jazz just a few weeks later on a 10-day contract, and ended up signing a three-year deal this past March. The Jazz wound up waiving Springer on July 24.
That waive led Springer to New Orleans, where he spent a few months with the Pelicans. He was waived on Thursday following New Orleans’ season-opener on Wednesday.
In 110 career games played, Springer has averaged 2.9 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.8 assists.
