The New Orleans Pelicans acquired DeMarcus Cousins last year via a trade during the All-Star Game. This year, Cousins doesn’t believe he will be dealt prior to this year’s midseason classic despite the team’s inconsistency.

The NBA’s Feb. 8 trading deadline is fast approaching, and general managers are scrambling to put together deals that can get them over the top or provide cap relief to their respective teams. In the Pelicans’ case, they are still a few key pieces away from being a contender, and trading Cousins may or may not be the right move.

ESPN’s Marc J. Spears reports that Cousins doesn’t believe he’s in the market.

“Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousins maintained at practice today that he didn’t believe he would be traded before the Feb. 8 deadline.”

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It’s been almost a year since the Twin Towers experiment by the Pelicans has been in play. They are only 11 wins away from last year’s overall record, an indication that they have improved immensely but maybe not as much as they hoped. After suffering through losing seasons in six of the past eight years, being a mediocre team was not what the Pelicans front office imagined they would become after acquiring the talented Cousins. They are currently sitting at 23-21 as the number seven seed in the Western Conference if the playoffs started today.

Trading Cousins could potentially return the franchise to being cellar dwellers despite the presence of Anthony Davis. More than anything, the Pelicans would rather package other good players to get a very good one.

Last year, Cousins was assured by the Sacramento Kings that they wouldn’t trade him until they eventually reneged on that statement and dealt the big man anyway.

Cousins is averaging 25.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game this season.