The New Orleans Pelicans have been hit pretty hard by the injury bug so far this offseason and it continued on Thursday. Just a couple of days after the Pelicans announced backup center Alexis Ajinca would be out four to six weeks with a hamstring strain they have also announced that starting center Omer Asik will be out three weeks with a right calf strain. The Pelicans are hopeful that Asik can return for the season opening game against the Golden State Warriors though, according to John Reid of The Times Picayune.
Asik is going to have to sit out the remainder of the preseason at the very least and there is no guarantee he will be back in the three week timetable they have given him. Calf injuries can linger and it is possible that he is not ready when the regular season starts. The Pelicans' first game is on October 27th which is 19 days away so it may be pushing it to say he could ready for that game but the Pelicans are hopeful.
Every game is important for New Orleans this season in a loaded Western Conference where a playoff spot will be tough to come by so they need Asik healthy. With both Asik and Ajinca nursing injuries, Kendrick Perkins is the only healthy center on the roster. The idea with Perkins when they signed him this offseason was for him to mentor Anthony Davis and provide leadership on the bench but now he may have to play a prominent role early on.
Head coach Alvin Gentry said after Ajinca's injury that he would play Davis at center some of the time but now with Asik's injury he may have to start Davis at center and have his superstar play the bulk of his minutes there.
Asik signed a five year $58 million contract with New Orleans this offseason after the best season of his career in terms of PER (15.5.) Asik averaged 7.3 points and 9.8 rebounds in just 26 minutes per game which made him one of the best rebounders in the NBA in terms of rebounding percentage. The Pelicans hope Asik doesn't miss any regular season time but it seems likely that he will and if he does the Pelicans better hope it's not too long because they need him.
