Four Free Agent Options The New Orleans Pelicans Should Consider

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NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 08: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans dunks the ball during the second half of a NBA game against the Sacramento Kings at the Smoothie King Center on December 8, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. the Sacramento Kings won the game in overtime 116 -109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

**DeMarcus Cousins Statistics**
Season	G	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS
2017-18	48	36.2	.470	.354	.746	12.9	5.4	1.6	1.6	25.2
Career	535	32.3	.460	.338	.737	11.0	3.2	1.4	1.2	21.5

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/4/2018.

Through the first 48 games of the season the pairing of DeMarcus Cousins and the Pelicans seemed to finally be working. After a rocky start to the season NOLA found themselves residing at the third seed out West with a record of 27-21. As for Boogie, he was having his best statistical season to date, seeing career highs all across the board (rebounds, assists, steals and minutes). Then, after an impressive victory over the grueling Houston Rockets on January 26th, a huge blow came to the NOLA franchise – DeMarcus Cousins had torn his left achilles.

In the ensuing days Cousins would have surgery to repair the tendon, thus bringing an end to what was a brilliant season for the All-Star center. With this, it appeared as though all hope for a playoff berth for the New Orleans franchise flew out the window. However, as we know now, this did not turn out to be the case.

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NOLA managed to finish the season with a record of 48-34, good enough for the sixth seed out West. Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday both enjoyed having their best seasons to date and the Pelicans ended up making it all the way to the conferences semifinals. And all this was accomplished with their second best player on the sidelines.

Now, with all this success, it makes one beg the question; should the Pelicans bring back Boogie? There’s no easy answer!

On the one hand, New Orleans did see their most successful season in franchise history without DeMarcus Cousins. Anthony Davis is an MVP and Defensive Player of the year finalist and both he and Jrue Holiday were named to the NBA’s All-Defensive first team.

However, on the other hand, at the time of Boogie’s injury the Pelicans seemed to be hitting their stride. They had won eight of their last ten games and beat the, then, undefeated James Harden/ Chris Paul Rockets lineup. And, though the Pelicans did make it to the second round of the playoffs, it appeared at times that they really could have used Cousins’ services on the boards and in the scoring department.

Either way you look at it, the Pelicans should at least consider bringing back Cousins to their ball club.