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NEW ORLEANS -- Pelicans?star Anthony Davis?will be eased back into action in training camp and the preseason, but the team expects him to be ready for its regular-season opener on Oct. 26.Davis, 23, said he feels fine and is all in for practice and two-a-days after the first big medical procedure of his career, an ultrasonic debridement of his left knee in March. But Pelicans GM Dell Demps said the team is taking a long view with Davis recovery.Were going to be real smart with him during training camp, Demps said at Fridays media day. So if you come to practice or you see him not working out, our goal is to get him 100 percent ready for the start of the regular season. So were going to be monitoring his workload. We do expect him to be full go on opening night.Davis, a three-time All-Star, reiterated his commitment to New Orleans for the long term and to staying on the court after failing to reach 70 games played in each of his first four NBA seasons.This offseason was big just to get back on the floor, he said. Where some of our guys wanted to improve their games, mine was, Can I be ready for the first game. Im ready. From there, [it was about] withstanding an entire season without missing games. Stuff happens. You cant control what happens. But stuff that I can control, I want to control. I think our doctors and our trainers are doing a great job of getting me back to that point. I feel like I can withstand an 82-game season right now.Meanwhile, the Pelicans will not have Tyreke Evans and Quincy Pondexter for the start of the season. Demps said both former starters could be available as early as November, but returns in December or January are more realistic.Evans, 27, underwent three surgeries on his right knee in the span of nine months and revealed Friday that he also suffered a blood clot in his calf following the most recent procedure, an osteochondral autograft transfer system (OATS) procedure to replace cartilage in three areas of his knee in February.Evans said that though the clot was painful, he was given pills by doctors and it went away after two days. Evans said the issue wasnt a concern moving forward, and that he maintains a good relationship with the organization.When asked what the last hurdle in his recovery was, Evans said, Just getting my knee stronger. Im working out right now and Im able to put the ball on the floor, moving pretty good. A lot of people say they cant really tell that Im hurt, but I just know I need to get a little bit stronger. Thats just rehab with the trainers, getting my quad stronger.Pondexter, who missed all of last season after having two surgeries on his left knee, said theres no swelling and there have been no setbacks in his recovery, but Demps said the team has decided to take it a little bit slower moving forward.Its not like it was one little scope, or one little surgery. Its two major surgeries, Pondexter said. Its been 16 months, and it still has to get a lot stronger again for me to play or withstand an NBA season or game.Were working on it. Were using all our resources to make it better. Im really looking forward to stepping back on that court. I know Im probably going to bust out in tears, for sure.Pondexter, 27, has participated in some team workouts this offseason. When asked if Pondexter will ever play again, Demps said that hes betting on him returning.Its been a long, long journey, Pondexter said. Theres not a person thats attacked their situation or worked harder than me in this thing. I wish everyone knew how much Im working and Im dedicating my life to getting back on the court and playing for this team and this organization.Evans and Pondexter will not travel with the Pelicans to China for their two preseason Global Games matchups with the Houston Rockets. Demps said theyll receive better estimates for both players in two to four weeks.When asked if any of the recovering players had setbacks or additional procedures this offseason, Demps said, I think in any type of rehab, there are setbacks sometimes. There are situations where guys are going back and forth and getting there, and I think thats part of it. But nothing that I would say has not been anticipated.Point guard Jrue Holiday is expected to miss an undetermined portion of the start of the season to be with his wife, Lauren Holiday, who is expected to undergo surgery to remove a benign tumor from the right side of her brain, and care for their newborn daughter.New Orleans lost 351 games to injury and illness last season, the second most in the past decade, and finished 12th in the Western Conference at 30-52.Los Angeles Lakers Shirts . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Los Angeles Lakers Store .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/ . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. Wholesale Lakers Jerseys . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. Cheap Lakers Jerseys . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement.For the sixth season in a row, ESPN.com is ranking the top players in the NBA. Who will be the best player this season?To get the final ranking, we asked our expert panel to vote on pairs of players.LeBron James vs. Stephen Curry. Russell Westbrook vs. Kevin Durant. Damian Lillard vs. Chris Paul.We asked, Which player will be better in 2016-17? To decide, voters had to consider both the quality and the quantity of each players contributions to his teams ability to win games.If you want to get involved in the discussion or just follow along, #NBArank is the Twitter hashtag to use. You also can follow along @ESPNNBA and on Facebook.Onn to the list .dddddddddddd...5. Russell WestbrookThunder | PG | @russwest44Last years rank: 72016-17 projected RPM: 7.21Insider profile:?With Kevin Durant leaving for the Golden State Warriors, the Thunder are Westbrooks team -- particularly after he agreed to renegotiate and extend his contract, keeping him under team control through the summer of 2018. Look out.?Read more ?#NBArank 1-51: LeBron James2: Stephen Curry3: Kevin Durant4: Kawhi Leonard5: Russell Westbrook#NBArank 2016: The Top 200 countdown ' ' '