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Pelicans waive Douglas-Roberts, Kilpatrick

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

It's cut-down season around the NBA, which is bad news for dozens of players on the fringes of rosters.

The New Orleans Pelicans made two such cuts Friday, waiving Chris Douglas-Roberts and Sean Kilpatrick, the team announced. That leaves the Pelicans roster at 17, meaning head coach Alvin Gentry and company still have two more tough decisions to make.

Douglas-Roberts and Kilpatrick both warrant looks once they clear waivers, but the Pelicans had little reason to keep additional wings at the end of the bench. Already thin at point guard, the Pelicans have suffered several injuries at the position and have similarly been decimated at center, meaning their final two roster spots (they have 13 guaranteed contracts) will likely go to bigs or lead guards.

Douglas-Roberts signed a two-year deal with the team in mid-September and figured to provide energy and defense at either forward spot, had he made the team. A second-round pick in 2008, Douglas-Roberts has spent parts of six seasons with five different teams, averaging 7.1 points and 2.1 rebounds in 19.7 minutes.

The short-shorts enthusiast averaged seven points over five preseason games for New Orleans and now faces a decision between heading overseas for a larger payday or opting for the D-League, where he'll be closer to an NBA call-up.

Kilpatrick, meanwhile, was signed in early September and needed to show he could work as a secondary ball-handler to have a realistic shot at the roster. The 25-year-old appeared in four games for the Minnesota Timberwolves last season and was a productive scorer at the D-League level, but totaled just two assists in 71 preseason minutes.

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