Pelicans' Tyreke Evans: Targeting return in December

Evans (knee, calf) is targeting a return to the court in December, Justin Verrier of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis:

Evans is coming off another injury-riddled season that ended with him requiring his third surgery on his right knee in the span of nine months. He's still recovering from the procedure, which he underwent in February, and revealed Friday that doctors also determined he suffered a blood clot in his calf as a result of the surgery. Evans said the clot dissipated within two days and wasn't a concern moving forward, but his troubling history with the knee continues to hamper his career. While Pelicans GM Dell Demps acknowledged that it's possible Evans could resume playing by some point in November, a December or January is viewed as more realistic, which is unsurprising given the circumstances of his injury. With both Evans and Jrue Holiday (personal) sidelined to begin the season, it's expected that some combination of Tim Frazier, E'Twaun Moore, Buddy Hield, Lance Stephenson and Langston Galloway will absorb most of the playing time in the backcourt.