Deal or No Deal: Sifting Through the Pelicans' Spare Parts

On Sunday, New Orleans shut down PF Anthony Davis for the rest of the season with knee and shoulder injuries. The Pelicans' franchise player joins guards Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans on the season-ending injury list, and with the returns of PF Ryan Anderson (groin) and PG Norris Cole (back) uncertain, there are a lot of unfamiliar faces playing heavy minutes at the moment. With many fantasy leagues entering the playoffs, is there anything of value to be had from New Orleans' fringe players?

PG/SG Toney Douglas

On his sixth team in seven years, Douglas has played 48 games with the Pelicans this season, starting six of them. Other than a handful of big games through the season's early months, Douglas didn't see consistent playing time until February. He's played between 19 and 42 minutes in each of the last nine games, averaging 11.8 points, 4.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds.

On Sunday, the team's first game since Davis was shut down, Douglas spearheaded an upset of the Clippers, playing 37 minutes and recording 15 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.

Cole's return could eat into Douglas' minutes, but it's worth noting that PG Tim Frazier, signed to a 10-day contract, has played between 20 and 27 minutes in each of the last three games, averaging 14.7 points, five assists and 4.3 rebounds. There are seemingly enough minutes to go around for three guards, and as impressive as Frazier has been, he's likely the one to go if and when Cole is ready to play.

Verdict: DEAL

SF/PF Dante Cunningham

Another strong performer in Sunday's win, Cunningham had six rebounds and a season-high 19 points in 40 minutes. His 10 field goal attempts marked just the third time all season he's had at least that many, and in 33 starts, Cunningham is averaging just 7.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in 28.6 minutes.

The journeyman is a fine energy player in real life, but doesn't have much fantasy value, especially in season-long leagues. With career averages of 5.9 points and 3.8 rebounds, efforts like Sunday's can be considered an exception rather than the start of a trend.

Verdict: NO DEAL

C Omer Asik

Asik played 30 minutes Sunday, the heaviest workload he's received all season, and turned a matchup against the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan into a season-high 15 points and a joint season-high 14 rebounds.

The stat line was Asik's first double-double of the year; without Davis or Anderson to fill in as a small-ball center, New Orleans had no choice but to deploy the Turkish big man for long stretches. Against teams without a post-oriented center, the defensive-minded Asik isn't really needed; in the two games this season he's been healthy for against the Warriors, for example, he's played a total of 10 minutes.

The Pelicans' immediate schedule, though, includes Miami's Hassan Whiteside, Indiana's Ian Mahinmi, New York's Robin Lopez and San Antonio's Tim Duncan, so there may be a regular spot in the lineup for Asik after all. His rebound rate of 18.6 per cent leads the team, so for fantasy owners desperate for help on the glass, taking a flier on Asik could pay off.

Verdict: DEAL