Derek Willis joining New Orleans Pelicans in NBA Summer League

UPDATE

The Pelicans have announced their Summer League roster, and it includes Derek Willis.

New Orleans begins summer league play on July 6 with the league kick-off matchup against the Toronto Raptors, followed by games against the Miami Heat on July 7 and the Detroit Pistons on July 9 before beginning the single-elimination tournament.

Derek Willis has found a new NBA home, at least for the summer.

According to Nicola Lupo of Sportando, Willis will join the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2018 NBA Summer League. If Willis were to earn a post on their roster, he could team up with former UK stars Rajon Rondo, DeMarcus Cousins, DeAndre Liggins, Darius Miller and Anthony Davis.

A 6-9, 228-pound forward and native of Mount Washington, Willis signed with the Detroit Pistons in the 2017 Summer League after going undrafted out of Kentucky. There, he averaged 3.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in four Summer League games.

Willis then signed with the Grand Rapids Drive of the G-League, where he averaged 11.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in 43 appearances last season. He shot nearly 38 percent from behind the three-point line.

Willis averaged 7.0 points and 5.4 rebounds as a senior for Kentucky last season. In 103 career college games, Willis connected on 39.9 percent of his 3-point field goal attempts and hit 80.2 percent of his free throws.

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