2018-19 New Orleans Pelicans

2017-18: 48-34 (6th in the East, lost in the 2nd round)
Draft picks: 51
Signed for next season ($96m): Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, Solomon Hill, Nikola Mirotic, E'Twaun Moore, Alexis Ajinca, Darius Miller, Chieck Diallo, Frank Jackson

This summer's free agents: Demarcus Cousins, Rajon Rondo, Ian Clark, Jordan Crawford, Deandre Liggins, Emeka Okafor, Charles Cooke
Okay, the Pelicans have two big priorities this off-season: Cousins and Rondo. I'd suggest going the sign-and-trade route with Cousins; as good as he was, they're a better team without him and since there aren't a lot of teams with cap space, Cousins would have a lot more options if teams were willing to send out salary to bring him in. If the Pelicans can't work a trade, I'd let him go. You hate to let to him walk but I'd hate to pay him big big money when you just watched the team get better without him; he's getting expensive, he's getting injury-prone, he's still a total pain in the ass in every way. Rondo, though, they must have back next year. Rondo finally looks like he's in the right place, I'd keep him (and if I was Rondo, I'd stay). Personally I'm not a fan of Ian Clark (I'd rather have, say, Rodney Hood). Crawford, Liggins and Okafor are fine for the end of the bench, I suppose, but they're fungible for the Pelicans. Cooke is on a 2-way contract.

#51 is not likely to bring back any sexy rookies, I'd suggest trying to pick up one of those Nevada combo guards (Caleb Martin or Kendall Stephens) or taking a flyer on a foreign prospect (preferably one of those big Euro white guys that shoots 3's); either way, the draft is not where the Pelicans will bring in new blood....unless...

How about this pointless trade idea: Cousins to the Knicks for the #9 pick, a 2020 1st round pick and Joakim Noah. Think Noah has anything to offer the AD-Rondo-Holiday line? He's still vastly cheaper than Cousins and if the first year doesn't work out, they can stretch him for the second year (or talk him into retiring). (If this trade is made on draft day then the Knicks could put in a 2019 pick instead of 2020, but either way, we all expect the Knicks to be in the lottery for the foreseeable future, right?) Or how about Cousins to the Heat for Adebayo, Olynyk, Winslow and 1st round pick? Or how about to the Cavs straight up for Kevin Love?

They may well bring back Cousins, he was fucking great before he got hurt last year. I thought he interfered with Davis rather than strengthening him, it's hard to imagine Cousins meshing with Mirotic, I always thought Boogie was a decidedly un-Rondo kinda guy. In the end, I think Cousins can be better utilized by turning him into a raft of role players, but bringing back a great player hardly ever feels like a bad idea. No matter what they do, it's hard to imagine the Pelicans creating a clear separation from the logjam in the West, I expect them to see the Pelicans in the hunt for a playoff spot next year, and I would suggest casually expecting a post-season next year is a good next step for the Pelicans.