Pelicans' Tyreke Evans out indefinitely after knee surgery

Something strange is going on in Louisiana.

Tyreke Evans is out indefinitely after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Tuesday, the New Orleans Pelicans announced. The team will announce a timetable for his return at a later date, but it's a safe bet that he'll miss the start of the regular season, which begins next week.

The 26-year-old Evans had been dealing with soreness in the knee and hadn't appeared in a preseason game since Oct. 12. He had arthroscopic surgery to remove scar tissue from that same knee at the end of the 2013-14 season, missed one game in December after bruising it, and had arthroscopic surgery on the knee again in late May.

It's the latest in a series of setbacks for the Pelicans this preseason. Alexis Ajinca will miss the start of the season with a hamstring strain, Omer Asik is in danger of missing the opener due to a calf strain, Jrue Holiday will enter the season on a serious minutes restriction, and Norris Cole is out indefinitely with a high ankle sprain. The rash of injuries has led to the Pelicans signing additional big men as practice bodies and bringing Nate Robinson in for guard depth.

The loss of Evans not only hurts their wing depth, but puts additional pressure on a thin point guard rotation. With Holiday limited and Cole out, Evans was set to once again see heavy run at the point, and head coach Alvin Gentry is quickly running out of options in that regard. It also keeps the starting small forward spot open, though Evans may have been slated for sixth-man duty if healthy.

Evans averaged 16.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.6 assists last season, with the assist rate representing a career-best. Lineups with Evans and superstar Anthony Davis - who may soon be tasked with carrying the entire team himself on both ends - outscored opponents by five points per-100 possessions.