Kofi Inkoom
The New Orleans Pelicans are dealt a significant setback as Matt Ryan will be sidelined for the next 10 to 14 days due to a troublesome right calf, the team announced. This poses a considerable challenge for both the team and Ryan himself.
Ryan has been putting in an average of 23.0 minutes per game this season, so his absence creates a notable gap in playing time, especially if CJ McCollum (chest) and Trey Murphy (knee) continue to be unavailable.
In the recent clash against the Timberwolves, Ryan wrapped up the game with an impressive showing, accumulating 10 points (3-5 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 1-1 FT), along with three rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 27 minutes during the Pelicans’ narrow 121-120 loss last Saturday.
Despite being a consistent force in all 13 of the Pelicans’ initial games this season, this injury hurdle will keep Ryan on the sidelines for a while.
Among New Orleans’ reserves, Jordan Hawkins stands out with a skill set most comparable to Ryan, making him the obvious choice to absorb the majority of Ryan’s minutes.
However, there’s also the possibility of Jose Alvarado, Dyson Daniels, and Naji Marshall taking on slightly larger roles until Ryan gets the green light to return.