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Pelicans' Alexis Ajinca: Looks primed for backup duties at center

Ajinca came off the bench and produced five points (2-4 FG, 1-2 FT), six rebounds, one steal and one block across 15 minutes in Thursday's 114-111 preseason loss to the Magic.

Analysis:

Though Pelicans coach intimated early in training camp that Omer Asik, the team's primary starter at center last season, could be at risk of losing his job on the top unit, it doesn't look like that will be the case to begin the 2016-17 campaign. Asik ended up starting the Pelicans' final four preseason games, suggesting he'll retain the top gig at center while Ajinca settles for backup duties. Ajinca figures to get starting chances at various points in the season in the likelihood that Asik struggles to produce, but neither player will benefit from a consistent 30-minute role. Gentry often prefers to deploy starting power forward Anthony Davis at center during extended stretches of games, which will keep plodders like Ajinca and Asik off the floor in favor of mobile floor-stretching big men Terrence Jones and Dante Cunningham.

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