Christian Shumate is off the New Orleans Pelicans' roster as of the Tuesday, Sep. 15 official roster. The 24-year-old forward had joined on a training camp deal reported four days earlier by Paul Garcia.
The move
Christian Shumate is no longer on the New Orleans Pelicans' roster, per the official roster as of Tuesday, Sep. 15. The 24-year-old forward, a rookie, had joined the Pelicans on a training camp deal, a signing reported Sunday, Sep. 13, by Paul Garcia in "Pelicans Sign Christian Shumate To Training Camp Deal," with no confidence rating listed for that report. His departure is not otherwise announced.
The money
Shumate's contract terms are not on file yet; public salary data can lag a signing by a day, so no cap figure is tied to his stint with the club. New Orleans carries a payroll of $196.5 million across 18 contracts for 2026-27, above the $165.0 million salary cap but below the $200.4 million luxury tax line. The Pelicans also sit under both the $209.0 million first apron and the $221.7 million second apron.
The fit
Shumate has no NBA line from last season. At forward, New Orleans' rotation last season was led by Trey Murphy III (35.5 minutes, 21.5 points) and Zion Williamson (29.7 minutes, 21.0 points), with Saddiq Bey (31.2 minutes, 17.7 points), Herbert Jones (28.4 minutes, 8.9 points) and Josh Oduro (27.3 minutes, 8.3 points) also in the mix. The Pelicans now list 20 players on the roster, the standard 15 plus three two-way spots.
Why did Christian Shumate leave the Pelicans' roster?
The move was detected from the official roster on Tuesday, Sep. 15; no reason is announced.
Had New Orleans signed Shumate before this?
Yes. Paul Garcia reported Sunday, Sep. 13, that the Pelicans signed Shumate to a training camp deal, with no confidence rating listed for that report.
What was Shumate's contract worth?
It is not on file yet; public salary data can lag a signing by a day.
How many players are on the Pelicans' roster now?
20 players: the standard 15 plus three two-way spots.