New Orleans rookie Bryce Dejean-Jones recently became the rare player on a 10-day contract to be elevated to a starting role, the result of a myriad of Pelicans injuries, particularly in the backcourt. Unfortunately for Dejean-Jones, he too has now fallen victim to the terrible run of health misfortune on the roster for New Orleans (22-34).
Not long before tip-off Thursday, the Pelicans announced that Dejean-Jones has sustained a fractured wrist, which will require surgery he will undergo Friday morning. A timetable for his return will be announced.
As a result of the injury to the Iowa State product, New Orleans will need to alter its starting lineup once again. Pelicans Coach Alvin Gentry said 90 minutes before tip-off that Alonzo Gee will likely move into the first unit at shooting guard, replacing Dejean-Jones. The other starters for the Pelicans are expected to be Norris Cole, Anthony Davis and Dante Cunningham at the forward spots, along with Alexis Ajinca at center. Other than Davis, none of those players were expected to be first-stringers during the 2015 offseason, though Cunningham did begin the regular season as a starter because Quincy Pondexter was out and eventually would miss the entire year due to knee surgery.
New Orleans will have only 10 players available vs. Oklahoma City. In addition to Dejean-Jones, projected starters Omer Asik, Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans and Pondexter are all sidelined.
