New Orleans Pelicans will be better off without DeMarcus Cousins
By Jeff Duncan | Posted July 04, 2018 at 10:21 AM | Updated July 04, 2018 at 10:21 AM
DeMarcus Cousins doesn't get it. He never has and most likely never will.
Like all narcissists, Cousins thinks the world revolves around him. He wants everyone to understand, respect and love him but fails to reciprocate likewise.
It's all about Boogie.
And when he doesn't get his way -- with an official's call, a coach's critique or, in this case, a contract offer -- he pouts and whines, throws a tantrum and runs to his room.
No one should be surprised at Cousins' decision to leave the
New Orleans Pelicans on Monday after a star-crossed 17-month tenure here.
It was a perfectly predictable move given his track record. When things don't go his way, he takes his ball and goes home -- assuming he doesn't turn it over along the way.
The Pelicans showed Cousins nothing but love during his tenure here. They supported him, protected him and went out of their way to defend him against outside criticism. They hired assistant coach Chris Finch to construct their offense around his unique talents and built their 2017-2018 #DoItBig marketing campaign around Anthony Davis and him. Head coach Alvin Gentry tolerated his mercurial behavior and the organization largely coddled him during his intermittent "Bad Boogie" regressions.
In turn, New Orleans embraced him. As New Orleanians have historically done with miscreants and ruffians, they dismissed his past indiscretions, treated him as family and snatched up No. 0 jerseys like summertime snowballs.
And when Cousins ruptured his Achilles tendon in February, the Pelicans expressed their support by reportedly offering him a two-year, $40 million contract. It wasn't the max deal Cousins anticipated before the injury, but it was a more-than-fair offer given the circumstances.
That Cousins rebuffed the offer is surprising but also understandable. Free agency was invented to allow players the chance to market their talents and maximize their earning power.
Undaunted, Gentry and Demps both publicly expressed their desire to re-sign Cousins.
"We would love to have him back," Demps said at the Pelicans' post-draft press conference in June. "We would want him back. ... He's going to beat this thing. He's going to fight this Achilles injury ... just knowing him and his competitive spirit and his work ethic. (The injury) does change things, but I'm betting on DeMarcus."
Various sources say the Pelicans discussed the parameters of a short-term deal with Cousins' representatives that would have paid Cousins around $10 million annually.
The Pelicans had a number for Cousins and were willing to allow him to test the market for a better offer. It's a common method of operation in free agency. Teams do it often to allow the player to establish the parameters for negotiation. In Cousins' case, it was a perfectly reasonable tactic, given the severity of his injury.
I'm not sure why, but this strategy apparently miffed Cousins. He ordered his agent to solicit offers other teams, but just as everyone, including the Pelicans, expected, found little interest. Among others, the Lakers and Celtics declined a one-year, $15 million deal presented by Cousins' agent. Other teams, presumably among those with established "No Cousins" policies, refused to even pick up the phone.
When it became apparent that Cousins had no interest in returning to New Orleans, the Pelicans snatched up Julius Randle for a two-year, $18 million deal, roughly the same amount they were willing to pay Cousins.
The chagrined Cousins settled for a deal that will pay him roughly half what he would have earned in NOLA and then proceeded to spin it as "a chess move" motivated by winning.
Spare me.
Yes, they'll miss the Good Boogie: His 25 points, 12 rebounds and five assists a night can't be taken for granted. When focused and motivated, there aren't any better big men in the league. But they won't miss the Bad Boogie: the maddening turnovers, fouls, indifferent defensive effort and constant complaining to the officials.
The Pelicans can still do it big without Boogie. And they'll be better off in the long run without him.
full story:
https://www.nola.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/07/193b8a37389548/new_orleans_pelicans_will_be_b.html
