Former Ohio State forward EJ Liddell traded to Atlanta Hawks – Buckeye Sports Bulletin

Liddell, selected by the Pelicans with the 41st overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NBA draft, has had a difficult start to his career, slowed significantly by injuries. Just two days after making his rookie debut for New Orleans in a 2022 NBA Summer League game, Liddell suffered a torn ACL on July 11, 2022, forcing him to undergo reconstructive surgery later that month and miss his entire rookie season.

Liddell fully recovered from his injury this season, eventually returning to the field as a full participant last summer for the Pelicans’ Summer League team. His successful recovery earned him a three-year, $6.2 million contract with the franchise on July 4, 2023.

“I’m blessed, man,” Liddell said a day after signing his contract. “I have come a long way. Last month I couldn’t play five-on-five, but now I can. It’s been almost a year since I last played, so I’m a little nervous, but I’m excited. »

Despite getting his new contract and being one of the Pelicans’ top contributors in Summer League, Liddell didn’t see the court much in his first healthy NBA season. He only appeared in eight games for the franchise while spending most of his time with the Pelicans’ G-League affiliate Birmingham Squadron, totaling just four points, five rebounds, two blocks, two steals and one assist in 23 minutes of NBA action.

Liddell appeared in 26 games for the squad and started 18 times, averaging 17.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.8 blocks per game.

Liddell, who was a two-time All-Big Ten player for Ohio State while averaging 14.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists for the program from 2019-22, will now look to rejuvenate his NBA career and carve out a reserve role on the Hawks’ roster for the 2024-25 regular season. However, Atlanta is loaded with young talent at the forward position for next year, with starters Saddiq Bay, De’Andre Hunter and Jalen Johnson all likely to return.

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