Pelicans not sure when Tyreke Evans will join them, but it won’t be start of training camp

At some point next season, Tyreke Evans will rejoin the Pelicans — and then they will have to figure out where he fits in with a changing rotation.

But that time will not be the start of training camp. Or even the start of the season. Evans had three knee surgeries in nine months and will still be doing rehab when the Pelicans open camp at the end of the month (and likely for a while after that). Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry already said as much, and John Reid of the Times-Picayune reiterated that in a recent story.

Guard-forward Tyreke Evans will not be available for the start of the upcoming season because he is not fully recovered after undergoing three surgeries on his right knee in a nine-month span. The Pelicans say Evans is still rehabbing to strengthen his surgically repaired knee.

When Evans does return, it will be a challenge for Gentry to fit him in smoothly. The Pelicans have revamped their roster around star Anthony Davis and have gotten younger, although better is still to be determined.

Evans can still put up numbers —15.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game last season (in the 25 games he played). The challenge is Evans has done his best work as a point guard with the ball in his hands, however, he isn’t as good paired with Davis as the guy the Pelicans hope to have at the point most of the season in Jrue Holiday (who also will miss the start of camp to be with his wife who is battling a brain tumor). Preseason would be the best time to see if Evans, Holiday and rookie Buddy Hield could play together and make it work, but Gentry doesn’t get that luxury.

It’s going to be an interesting season in New Orleans, where Davis is just starting the max extension to his rookie deal so they have time but need to figure out who to put around him that works.