Dante Cunningham was the Beginning of the New Orleans Pelicans New Identity

The New Orleans Pelicans’ change to a balanced front on both offense and defense began a few years ago, when the team made the signing of forward Dante Cunningham.

Just under two years ago, the New Orleans Pelicans signed Dante Cunningham to the team, in order to shore up depth issues.

Since then, Cunningham’s signing began a new era of Pelicans basketball.

The New Orleans Pelicans gave Dante a second chance at a basketball life. Cunningham was charged with a felony domestic assault during the 2013-2014 season. Those charges were eventually dropped, however the aftermath of it could have ruined his career.

NBA teams became reluctant to give him a shot, due to the serious condition that kind of charge has. This incident was almost the end of Dante at the NBA level.

The New Orleans Pelicans, at the beginning of the 2014-2015 season, were having massive struggles filling the small forward position. After Eric Gordon went down to an injury, the team shuffled pieces around. When they moved Tyreke Evans to shooting guard, no one could suffice the small forward role.

So the team took another route. They signed Cunningham.

What they did not realize was his play style would affect the team’s future over the next two years.

At the time of Cunningham’s signing, the Pelicans had Head Coach Monty Williams leading the squad. Monty’s philosophy keys in on strong defense and discipline with the ball.

Cunningham’s strength is filling whatever role is necessary. He became a focus for strong defensive play on some of the best small forwards in the league. He also made sure to stay careful with his decision making. Most important, he stays healthy. The adaptability turned his New Orleans career from one of desperate injury filling to a real role on the team.

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In the 2014-2015 season, Cunningham averaged 5.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 66 games. His 0.7 steals and 0.6 blocks highlight his defensive intensity against one of the strongest positions in the league. The numbers will not blow you away, but they are steady.

It kept New Orleans competitive enough to reach the playoffs. After their epic run, Cunningham found himself a home. The Pelicans re-signed him to a new contract and made him a key piece to the team.

What New Orleans did not know was what Cunningham’s overall presence would be. On a roster that had plenty of players with constant injuries and up-and-down play, Dante became consistency. It was the main thing New Orleans lacked the next season, especially with the hiring of new Head Coach Alvin Gentry.

Gentry’s style was completely different. While some players struggled from the transition of “defense and discipline” to “quick, decisive and fast paced”, Cunningham stayed tough. He transitioned his game to what his team needed. In a year filled with struggles for the Pelicans, Dante stayed a cornerstone of consistency.

Dante Cunningham ended up playing 80 games in the 2015-2016 season, seven more than anyone else on the roster. His numbers once again did not showcase, but he became the only player to not see major fluctuations throughout the season.

While players like Omer Asik, Ryan Anderson and even Anthony Davis had months of success and months of disappointment, Cunningham stayed even keel all season. He’d come out and play strong to whatever the team needed him to do.

During the 2015 offseason, the Pelicans adjusted to a more long-range specialized game. They wanted their wing players to be able to shoot the three. Cunningham’s adaptability once again would showcase.

After averaging 0.2 threes attempted in 2014-2015, Dante averaged 0.7 threes made in 2015-2016. His 31.6% from behind the arc is not stunning, but it did help the Pelicans achieve their offensive goals.

The Pelicans were a strong offensive team in general. However, they did not have many players that played well on both ends. Davis and Jrue Holiday had success on offense and defense, but not many other players did.

New Orleans had great offensive-first players like Anderson and Gordon. They also had strong defensive-first players like Asik. There was not many Pelicans players who did both. Cunningham, while he did it in small, short bursts, was a rare quality.

It’s something New Orleans must have considered when they remade their team this offseason.

The Pelicans now have a great amount of players that can play strong on offense and defense. Guys like E’Twaun Moore, Terrence Jones and Solomon Hill highlight their effectiveness on both ends. It’s a place Cunningham feels more like the rest of his team.

While he is no longer the spotlight of underrated play on both ends, Cunningham is the beginning keg of this now working puzzle. Dante started his first year in New Orleans with unbalanced players and a system not entirely suited to his kind of play. That looks to change now, with the recent changes the team has made.

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While Dante Cunningham may go unnoticed much of the time this season, it’s easy to see how his play helped mold the New Orleans Pelicans. His incredible balance, that helped keep New Orleans afloat for two seasons, has become the backbone of what management wants this team to be. A multi-threat unit that focuses on adjusting to how they need to play. His second chance at the NBA dream may not have just been a saving grace for Dante Cunningham, but the New Orleans Pelicans as well.