Demarcus Cousins was having a season for the ages. His numbers looked like something out of a video game. In 48 games, Boogie was putting up 25/13/5. In their second season together, he and Anthony Davis were starting to figure it out and were going to be in the playoff hunt at the end of the season. On January 26, against Houston, Demarcus suffered a torn Achilles tendon against Houston. His injury came at a very interesting time. It has plenty of short and long-term implications.
Cousins is in the midst of the most interesting season of his career. He was just selected as an All-Star starter, on team LeBron. There was plenty of talks this season of Cousins being shopped at the deadline but the Pelicans have since quieted those rumors, as they plan to resign Cousins to a max-deal this coming offseason. His presence has not only helped the Pelicans win more games but has helped to appease Anthony Davis, the Pelicans franchise player.
However, with an Achilles injury to your star big man, the question becomes, what should the Pelicans do this offseason?
Let's look at the options. They can re-sign Demarcus Cousins, and he and AD can continue to function as the lead dogs for the Pelicans. However, that cripples the cap space, the ad leaves NOP in mediocrity. If they trade him at the deadline, which if it was unlikely before is downright impossible now, what could they get for him? Who would be willing to trade assets for what could end up being damaged goods and a fat contract?
Had Cousins not been hurt and traded, that team would likely be getting him for half a season before he's a free agent. With the injury, no one is going to attempt to get him. New Orleans is the only team willing to give him the max at this point and smart money says he'll re-sign in New Orleans. Re-signing Boogie guarantees nothing if you ask me.
Even if he comes back, New Orleans isn't getting any better, or closer to challenging for a title. Right now, outside of the twin towers, New Orleans boasts another good player in Jrue Holiday, who's playing on a max deal, and a bunch of pieces that don't exactly help their cause. At some point, they'll have to get some help for their big men or pull the plug on the whole experiment which brings me to my next point.
Anthony Davis is the Pelicans. Everything they do is centered around trying to compete during the AD era. He's been in the league for over 5 years and they have one playoff appearance (2015). Since then, injuries to Davis and a tragic rotation of players has led them to mediocrity. Davis has said he's committed to the Pelicans, but if they don't build a contender in the next, let's say two years, they're going to have a serious issue. Davis can opt out in 2020, and teams are already foaming at the mouth.
Teams like the Celtics have made it clear, that they will always be in the position to acquire a player like Davis. The Pelicans wouldn't trade Anthony Davis, but when he has the chance to leave, a below-average team will make that decision a little easier.
The bottom line is, Boogie's injury affects the present and immediate future of the Pelicans and Anthony Davis. If he can come back and be the best big man in the game, all the better. Maybe the Pelicans will figure it out, maybe not. If he's malcontent, AD's eyes will wander. The only certainty is Demarcus getting max money from the Pelicans and returning sometime around Christmas next season. What it means for the team and their star player remain to be seen.
