The DeMarcus Cousins deal significantly altered the outlook for the New Orleans Pelicans, but they reached into their past to shore up a backcourt thinned out by this week's blockbuster trade.
Jarrett Jack, who played 115 games for the then-Hornets between 2010 and 2012, has signed a 10-day deal with the Pelicans, the team announced Friday.
Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said his new-look roster will benefit from Jack's ability to play both guard positions and from his cerebral, veteran approach.
"No. 1, I think he's a natural leader," Gentry said. "He plays with toughness, which you can always have in this league. He finds a way to get things done. We felt that he would be a good addition to the team."
Jack served as backup point guard during Chris Paul's final season in New Orleans. The only player remaining on the roster since Jack's first stint is Quincy Pondexter, who hasn't played in nearly two years because of a left knee injury.
"They've got some established guys here now, some guys that the fans can kind of connect with and have face-value with and know," Jack said. "I'm just here to try to create some opportunities for them as well as myself, and try to get this thing moving."
The 33-year-old Jack hasn't played in the NBA since January 2016, when he tore his right ACL while with the Brooklyn Nets.
"I'm ready to go," Jack said. "I wouldn't have done a disservice to the team and a disservice to myself if I didn't feel like I could come down here and be myself."
With a roster spot open following the trade of Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans and Langston Galloway, along with two 2017 draft picks, to the Sacramento Kings for Cousins and Omri Casspi, the Pelicans auditioned Mario Chalmers, Quinn Cook, Hollis Thompson and Reggie Williams earlier this week, ESPN's Marc Stein reported.
Thompson, a former Philadelphia 76ers swingman, signed a 10-day contract Friday and played five minutes off the bench in a 129-99 loss to the Houston Rockets.
Casspi suffered a broken right thumb against the Rockets and is expected to miss four to six weeks.
The Pelicans waived forward Terrence Jones on Friday after a trade to allow him a chance for a better opportunity did not materialize before Thursday's deadline, opening a final spot on their 15-man roster.