New Orleans Pelicans Roundtable: Offseason Questions
By Rick Stone
4) What is the biggest thing the Pelicans need to do, in order to make DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis happy for the long haul?
Rick Stone:
They need a clear team identity. I will give Alvin Gentry this, the start of the season’s team had a clear identity. They knew what they wanted to be, but were relying on players that could not fill those roles. Demps and Gentry have talked about shooters and this team needs them desperately.
That costs money, so they are going to have to get tricky on how they acquire that. Even more so, they need to be able to tell A.D. and Boogie how this team’s going to play. The up-tempo track meet style will not work on this current roster. It’s time to adjust and make a new team identity, one that compliments Fire and Ice.
Preston Ellis:
Win. They’ve already begun doing that with their stretch of eight wins out of eleven, but they are not close to being a four seed team or higher. Dell Demps will in all likelihood have to use that 2018 first round pick to acquire talent and dump the salary needed, to clear space and improve the roster. However, they are not too far off. They are one difference maker, and one or two role players away from a 50-win season.
Wilton Jackson:
It is simple. They need at least two other players who can score anywhere from 12 to 15 points consistently throughout an 82-game season to take some of the pressure and demands off of A.D., Boogie and Holiday as the main sources of offense.
The biggest thing will be the available salary space. For the Pelicans to win more games, which is what will keep AD and Boogie happy, they need the right players to fit into Gentry’s system.
Tyler Pearson:
Winning. Simple as that.