New Orleans Pelicans: 2018-19 NBA season preview

2018-19 roster

Key Additions: Julius Randle (free agency), Elfrid Payton (free agency), Jahlil Okafor (free agency), Jarrett Jack (free agency)

Key Subtractions: DeMarcus Cousins (free agency), Rajon Rondo (free agency), Emeka Okafor (waived), DeAndre Liggins (waived)

This Pelicans team is largely the same as it was last year during the stretch run and playoffs, with just a couple changes. DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo departed in free agency and the front office signed Julius Randle and Elfrid Payton, both lottery picks from the 2014 NBA Draft.

With Cousins missing the second half and playoffs last season, his departure isn’t as galling as it may have been after New Orleans gave up Tyreke Evans, Buddy Hield, Langston Galloway and both their 1st and 2nd round picks in 2017 to get him.

When the Pelicans acquired Cousins, he had just a year and half left on his deal and was no longer eligible for a supermax extension, which he had been pining to sign.

Oh how the tables turn; the Pelicans went 21-13 without Cousins and played at a faster pace with shooters around AD, a strategy that eventually led to their complete dismantling of the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs.

The 2018-19 roster is better built to maximize AD than arguably any roster with Boogie Cousins on it would be.

That doesn’t mean the 2018 offseason was successful though–losing Rondo hurt, and Elfrid Payton is still a bundle of question marks; Jarrett Jack doesn’t stand to offer much more than a locker room presence either, if the team picks up his contract.

More puzzlingly, the team failed to address its lack of wing depth, literally standing pat with the role players they had. With their 2018 1st round pick sent to the Chicago Bulls in the Nikola Mirotic trade, they missed out on several young 3 and D guys there too.