What a night for New Orleans Pelicans basketball. Hours after superstar Anthony Davis scored a record 52 points to win the NBA All-Star Game MVP in his home city of New Orleans, news broke that the Pelicans had acquired fellow All-Star DeMarcus Cousins from the Sacramento Kings. Even at the late hour at which the news broke, close to midnight, it sent shock waves throughout the NBA.
The Pelicans, who sit 2.5 games behind the Denver Nuggets for the 8th seed in the Western Conference playoffs, suddenly look like the favorite to reach the playoffs. They now have arguably the two best big men in the NBA combining to make the best front-court in the NBA. Add the fact that the Pelicans gave up no starters, as they traded Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, and first round pick Buddy Hield to go along with a 1st and 2nd round pick in this year’s draft, and the Pelicans pulled off a steal. The Pelicans also received Israeli guard Omri Casspi in the deal.
Talks began to emerge recently that the Pelicans better get a move on winning or Anthony Davis might soon want to leave like Chris Paul did just a few years ago. Well, the Pelicans just swung for the fences, adding a superstar to play with Davis. Now, some are saying Cousins’s big ego will attack the Pelicans’ locker room and Davis’s control, but I think it will do just the opposite. I’ve always clamored for Davis to take more control on the floor especially late in games, but Davis isn’t one to demand for the ball. Cousins will now add another threat on both sides of the court and take pressure off of Davis, allowing him to play his own game.
Looking beyond just the impact this trade has on the Pelicans, it’s clear the NBA will feel a shake up after this. While every team in the NBA has gone small trying to keep up with Golden State and their three-point shooters, New Orleans just went ultra-big. Head Coach Alvin Gentry, who coached on the high-flying Warriors, now gets to figure out how to make this new lineup work. If everything works out well, the Pelicans might have found a way to counter the Warriors if they happen to meet in the 1st vs 8th first round playoff match-up. Also, looking at other contenders such as San Antonio or the Los Angeles Clippers, the Pelicans’ big men match-up if not beat the ones of those teams. This trade will have major effects all around the league.
The Pelicans have for a long time meddled around in a pool of nothingness with no real direction. Now, they are once again relevant in the larger NBA landscape. Talk about a successful weekend hosting the All-Star Game.