Will the Pelicans max out DeMarcus Cousins?
New Orleans can offer Cousins a five-year, $180 million contract this summer. But the Pelicans’ playoff run post-Cousins’ Achilles tear could undoubtedly complicate negotiations with the all-star center.
Anthony Davis took his game to a higher level when Cousins went down in late January. He posted monthly scoring averages of 35.0, 28.1, and 28.3 PPG in February, March and April respectively. His rebounding and defensive numbers also ticked higher in the months after the Cousins injury. He capped the season with a monster playoff stat line (30.1 PPG and 13.4 RPG). Supporting players like Jrue Holiday and Nikola Mirotic also elevated their play with Cousins out of the lineup.
As many teams pivot to a more “small ball” style of play, it’s fair to ask how valuable is a player like Cousins in today’s NBA?
There’s no denying Cousins’ talent. He’s an offensive powerhouse who can punish teams on the low block or stretch his game out to the three-point line. But at 6’11, 270 pounds, players like Cousins aren’t an ideal fit in the new “pace and space” era. At times, Cousins can be a paint-clogger, and opposing teams can target him in pick and roll situations.
Then there are the obvious questions about his health. Returning from a torn Achilles would be challenging for any player, let alone someone Cousins’ size. He was playing the best basketball of his career in the games before he went down. But during that same period, he was also logging more minutes than he’s ever played in the past. Can he return to his all-star form? And will he be susceptible to future injuries as the pace of NBA games quicken?
