Quincy Pondexter will undergo season-ending surgery, according to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports. The New Orleans Pelicans’ small forward has not played at all this season after having arthroscopic knee surgery in the offseason. His season-ending surgery will be performed on the same knee.
Pondexter was one of, if not the only three-and-d option in the Pelicans’ wing rotation. Had he been able to return, he could have had a major positive impact on the team’s currently dire situation. The 27-year-old has battled injuries throughout his NBA career, downgrading what has been a solid career as a role player in Memphis and New Orleans.
According to Charania, the Pelicans will look at several options to fill the void created by Pondexter’s setback. Some potential mid-season additions could be Elijah Millsap, Orlando Johnson, and Bryce Dejean-Jones. The team can sign any of these players, or others, to 10-day contracts and they likely will do so, soon. Until then, they will continue to rely on Tyreke Evans, Eric Gordon, and Dante Cunningham as their main rotation at the wing positions.
This will be a major blow to the Pelicans, a team expected to be in the playoffs again this season. Pondexter could have added two things that they need desperately: shooting and defending. Now, the Pelicans’ road back to the playoffs becomes an even tougher one.
