New Orleans Pelicans: 3 reasons Julius Randle is a great pickup

3. AD’s blessing

When a small-market team like New Orleans has a once in a generation talent like Anthony Davis, the organization should do everything in its power to keep him happy. When your superstar player heavily recruits someone to join him, it’s in managements best interest to make a deal happen.

You have to give credit to Dell Demps for listening to his star player, and acting accordingly. According to ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, Davis was highly involved in recruiting Randle to join him in New Orleans:

Aside from receiving AD’s blessing, Randle also shares another common bond with the Pelicans franchise player: Both played under John Calipari at the University of Kentucky.

Davis has seemingly made a career out of recruiting and playing with players from his alma mater. Last season, former Wildcats DeMarcus Cousins, Rajon Rondo and Darius Miller played alongside him in New Orleans.

Maybe he is on to a recipe for success, as the Pels enjoyed their best season in the Big Easy since the Chris Paul era a decade ago.

As a free agent joining a new locker room, it helps to have the franchise player in your corner. With the Brow heavily involved in the process to recruit Randle to New Orleans, the transition to his new team should be easier, both on and off the court.