Can Davis and the Pelicans Take Flight?
New Orleans, a city mostly known for its magic and festivals, but this year there has been a lot more about their budding NBA franchise and their superstar forward Anthony Davis. And the addition of All-Star center Demarcus Cousins. Davis was drafted by the New Orleans hornets in 2012, and in 2014 the team changed their name and logo to the New Orleans Pelicans. Since drafting Davis the Pelicans have made the playoffs one time, and were hoping to make this year their second, while currently sitting at the eight seed in the western conference. Considering New Orleans’ struggles in recent years one can help but think about what would happen for Davis’ career if he left New Orleans to have a better chance of winning in the future with a different team.
Davis has been a force since entering the league in 2012 and in his 6 years in the NBA he has averaged 23 points per game (ppg), 10 rebounds per game (rpg), 2 assists per game (apg), 1 steal per game (spg), and 2 blocks per game (bpg). He has 5 all-star game appearances with one all-star MVP and finished top 5 in MVP voting the last 2 years and has been in considerations for defensive player of the year several times. All of these amazing stats and ridiculous numbers have been washed away by the pelican’s severe lack of success and lack of playoff appearances. Davis has put up tremendous numbers, but by himself this isn’t enough; you can ask Michael Jordan or LeBron James and they will say the same thing “nobody can win by themselves” because to win a championship Jordan had Pippen, Kobe had Shaq, and LeBron had Wade, and Davis has had nobody.
Davis has had no other all-star teammate in his 6 years, which is until the much anticipated arrival of Demarcus Cousins in New Orleans. Over his 8 year career Cousins has averaged 22 points per game (ppg), 11 rebounds per game (rpg), 3 assists per game (apg), 1 steal per game (spg), and 1 block per game (bpg). He has been a 4 time all-star, mad the all-nba second team twice, and was also a part of the NBA all-rookie first team in 2011. With the franchise seeing that Davis was entertaining the idea of leaving in free agency the team was desperate to get some talent and ended up trading for one of the most elite centers in the NBA. This year the pelicans were fighting through the regular season fighting for a playoff spot and sitting at the eight seed with less than 20 games to play things were looking good. Unfortunately, DeMarcus Cousins went down with a torn Achilles right before the all-star game and essentially crushing the team’s playoff aspirations.
Where to go from here? The question on the minds of everyone involved in the New Orleans franchise. The team is looking for answers, whether they should tank and get a high draft pick, try to trade and get some more immediate help, or wait until free agency and try to attract a star there. Tanking seems nearly out of the question because as long as Davis is there he is going to keep the team relevant and he is looking for a championship, not the first pick in the draft. If the pelicans were going to make a trade they missed their opportunity because the trade deadline went by without a single transaction from the team; if they were to make a trade they could have went after a guy like Memphis’ guard Tyreke Evans who is averaging 19 ppg, 5 rpg, and 5 apg, this would have been the third star they were missing to make the playoffs and even with cousins out Evans could help take pressure off of Davis. So this leaves the team with one option, go full-force in free agency and try to convince a star to come to New Orleans. Within the next two years there will be several big name free agents, but who do the Pelicans pursue? The pelicans need guards and forwards, especially ones who can shoot and this leaves them with two superstar choices; Kawhi Leonard or Klay Thompson. Both of whom shoot well above 40% from deep and average 20 plus ppg. Without any additional help it is clear that the pelicans will not be able to make a run through the playoffs and this will lead to Davis’ departure, but if they can bring some talent in to help Davis and Demarcus the pelicans can contend for titles in the coming years.
