New Orleans Pelicans lose Tyreke Evans for 3-5 weeks

By Phil Watson | Sep 27, 2014

Apr 14, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Tyreke Evans (1) reacts after making a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter of the a game at Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Thunder 101-89. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

The New Orleans Pelicans went into their first season with their new name in 2013-14 with high hopes, but injuries prevented the team from having its best beaks on the court last season.

More from NBA

It doesn’t appear 2014-15 is off to any better start.

Guard Tyreke Evans will miss training camp and likely most of the preseason with a strained hamstring, according to a press release from the team.

"“Tyreke injured his hamstring playing pickup basketball out of town last week,” general manager Dell Demps said. “He is back in New Orleans rehabbing with our medical staff. Hopefully, he will be cleared to play before the season opener.”"

The Pelicans didn’t have a single player appear in all 82 games last season, and key performers Evans (10 games), Anthony Davis (15), Eric Gordon (18), Jrue Holiday (48) and Ryan Anderson (60) all missed at least 10 games due to injuries.

That dragged the Pelicans to a 34-48 finish, last in the Southwest Division and 12th in the Western Conference.

Evans, the 2009-10 Rookie of the Year with the Sacramento Kings, was in his first year with the Pelicans last season and in 72 games averaged 14.5 points, five assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 28.2 minutes per game, shooting .436/.221/.771.

Evans was the fourth overall pick in the 2009 draft by the Kings out of Memphis, but has never played more than 72 games in a season. The healthiest he has been was in the lockout-shortened 2011-12 campaign, when he played in 63 of Sacramento’s 66 games.

More from FanSided.com

NBA Point Guards: Who’s the best?
Kidd: Payton not mentoring Greek Freak
Los Angeles Lakers to instill ‘toughness’
Los Angeles Clippers need Blake Griffin to take next step
Kobe Bryant drew inspiration from Cheetahs for fadeaway