Report: Pelicans determined to re-sign Cousins, haven't invited trade offers
The New Orleans Pelicans want to keep on boogieing.
The team is determined to re-sign DeMarcus Cousins and has not invited offers for the three-time All-Star ahead of February's trade deadline, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
New Orleans has hovered around .500 for much of the season, underperforming in the eyes of people who expected more from a squad that boasts a pair of top-15 talents. It's been suggested that the club should part with one or even both of its frontcourt stars - Anthony Davis and Cousins - to commit to a full-fledged rebuild.
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While the Pelicans may not be world-beaters, they are on pace to make the playoffs for the first time in three years. Hanging onto Boogie also figures to keep franchise player Davis happier than letting Cousins walk this summer while lacking the cap flexibility to replace him with anyone nearly as talented.
The Pelicans acquired Cousins and Omri Casspi from the Sacramento Kings before last year's deadline in exchange for Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, Buddy Hield, and draft-pick compensation.
Cousins, 27, stuffs the stat sheet with 25.9 points, 12.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game for the eighth-seeded Pelicans in his first full campaign in the Big Easy. He's owed $18 million in 2017-18 and can become an unrestricted free agent at season's end.