The New Orleans Pelicans added some size Wednesday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.7 million contract with free agent center Greg Stiemsma. Announced by agent Mark Bartelstein via a number of sources, CBS Sports' Ken Berger first reported the financial terms of the contract.
After trading away last year's starting center, Robin Lopez, as part of the three-team deal that brought Tyreke Evans to New Orleans, the Pelicans needed to add some size to a fairly thin frontcourt. In Stiemsma, a 6'11, 260-pound behemoth of a man, they certainly get a player who provides post presence.
Playing a limited role over the past two seasons with the Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves, Stiemsma proved to be a solid back-of-the-bench big. Though he may take on a slightly larger role with New Orleans given the team's lack of size, he has mostly been brought in to shore up the team's rim protection after a subpar defensive season.
In 76 games with the Wolves last season, Stiemsma averaged four points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. His block rate of 5.8 percent placed him among the top-15 in the NBA last season, ahead of marquee shot-blockers like Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan.
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