Center Alexis Ajinca is still not able to play for the New Orleans Pelicans because of a knee injury. Because of their depleted roster, the Pelicans have been granted by the NBA a $2.75 million disabled player exception.

Ajinca is missing action this season because of patellar tendonitis. Last December, he has been ruled out for the rest of the season after a surgery on his right patellar tendon. It is an injury that typically requires four to six months of recovery time.

Alexis Ajinca averaged 5.3 points and 4.5 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks in 39 games for the Pelicans last season, mostly playing as an insurance policy for Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. Selected 20th overall by the  Charlotte Bobcats in the first round of the  2008 NBA Draft, Ajinca is playing on a four-year contract with the Pelicans which would not expire until the summer of 2019.

Even though Ajinca's loss is not a significant dent on New Orleans' championship aspirations, the Pelicans will probably find a replacement for him on the free-agent market, as the team could use depth on their frontcourt.

Even though New Orleans boasts of arguably the best big-man combo in the NBA, the Pelicans are surprisingly only 18th in the league with 42.9 rebounds per game. In addition, they allow the ninth-most points in the paint with 46.0 per contest.

But the Pelicans will see a small glimmer of hope as the NBA has given them this disabled player exception. The team can also make some moves while the trading block is still open.