Pelicans Bring Back Hunter Dickinson Because Time is a Flat Circle

The New Orleans Pelicans are bringing back Hunter Dickinson, proving that NBA front offices simply cannot resist a 7-foot reunion.

Underdog NBA reported the signing on Thursday, which CBS Sports and Shams Charania noted is a two-way deal for the former Kansas star.

"Underdog NBA reported the signing, with Shams Charania confirming it as a two-way deal."

If this feels like déjà vu, your brain is working correctly. Dickinson literally just did this dance with New Orleans. He signed a two-way contract with the Pelicans in July, only to get waived in August when the front office decided they would rather give that spot to Malik Dia.

Getting cut and re-signed by the exact same team in a three-month window is not a career arc. That is a timeshare presentation.

The on-court production at this level is still mostly theoretical. During his last brief stint, Dickinson averaged 2.4 points in 8.4 minutes across five games. He brings obvious size, but he is not exactly going to force a massive rotation change for a playoff hopeful.

For anyone looking at Pelicans futures or daily props, this transaction does not move the needle on the spread. But it does give New Orleans some cheap, emergency frontcourt depth as they navigate the early season grind.

The Pelicans just scraped out a 101-97 win over the Dallas Mavericks and need big bodies to eat practice minutes and sit at the end of the bench.

Dickinson will likely be in uniform when New Orleans hosts the Washington Wizards on October 17. Whether he actually gets off the bench is another question entirely, but at least he already knows where the practice facility is.