Pelicans' Anderson slowly increasing contact, expects to be ready for camp

A week after announcing he had been cleared for contact following surgery to repair a herniated disk, Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson continued to sound optimistic at a voluntary team workout on Thursday.

Anderson also mentioned that the tough season he endured last year helped him become mentally stronger and helped his passion for the game. After missing just one game in his debut season with the Pelicans in 2012-13, Anderson appeared in only 22 games during his injury-plagued 2013-14 campaign.

When he was on the court, however, the stretch-four produced at unprecedented levels, with career-highs in scoring (19.8 points), minutes (36.1) and three-point percentage (40.9).

In addition, a Pelicans team that was outscored by 3.7 points per 100 possessions with Anderson on the bench outscored opponents by 1.7 points per 100 possessions with the 26-year-old on the court.

With Anthony Davis emerging as a young superstar and Omer Asik brought in to shore up the defensive issues that could plague an Anderson-Davis combo, Anderson's health and floor spacing ability on offense could ensure New Orleans has one of the most balanced bigs combinations in the league.

With Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans in the backcourt, the Pelicans have the talent to compete for a Western Conference playoff spot, but health likely remains the biggest question mark to the roster.