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New Orleans Pelicans: 2017-18 NBA season preview

By Simon Cherin-Gordon

NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 02: Chicago Bulls guard Rajon Rondo (9) has a shot blocked by New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the against the Chicago Bulls on April 2, 2017, at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA. Bull won 117-110. (Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 02: Chicago Bulls guard Rajon Rondo (9) has a shot blocked by New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the against the Chicago Bulls on April 2, 2017, at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA. Bull won 117-110. (Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images
Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images /

Storyline 3: Gauging their place, today and tomorrow

Whether Demps is a good GM is very much in question, but the answer is irrelevant. All that matters is this: his fate rests on the Cousins experiment.

Time and time again, he has given away future assets to try and quickly mend Davis’ flawed supporting staff. He will be inclined to do so at this year’s deadline should things not click.

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Because of this, the more power he is given this February, the worse. GMs who are making moves to save their jobs are generally not good for a franchise, and that is especially true for one with such a rare talent in Davis.

There is still time to build a foundation that will keep Davis happy, but it has to start as soon as possible. One more quick-fix move will push things past the point of no return. Letting Cousins walk for nothing will do the same, considering the chips that were pushed in to acquire him.

If the Pelicans are on track to win 50 games, keeping it together will make sense. That type of pace would signify that Davis, Cousins and Holiday are a special trio that can win with minimal help. Re-sign Cousins, make some necessary tweaks, and maybe this team contends for titles as the Warriors age and Davis comes into his prime.

If they are struggling to grab or hold a playoff spot, dramatic changes need to occur. They must recoup on Cousins, load up on young talent and picks that complement Davis and Holiday (who is locked in for two years longer than AD) and get off of whatever long-term salary they can, so that they can be a player in free agency.

By that time, Davis’ three remaining years will become two, and that’s nothing. We saw what happened to Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving and Carmelo Anthony this summer.

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