The trade deadline is just over a month away, which has begun to spark up rumors around the league about possible moves.

During a recent podcast with Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype, Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders stated that he believes the New Orleans Pelicans will not trade All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins despite him being in the final year of his deal.

Alex Kennedy: Do you think we could see New Orleans try and flip DeMarcus Cousins?

Michael Scotto: No, I don’t see them moving Cousins because one: They’re trying to become a playoff team. They feel their best advantage against any team — whether it’s the Golden State Warriors, the Cleveland Cavaliers, etc — is that they have two of the premier big men in the league. In a league where you see a lot of small-ball play, DeMarcus Cousins — that’s their best advantage. They need to keep Jrue Holiday healthy and Rajon Rondo healthy, as well. I really don’t see DeMarcus Cousins getting moved. I think if the Pelicans, for whatever reason, went on a 10-game losing streak, as something drastic, then you could see it. But as of this point, I would not think of it that way. And I’ve seen people throw out there maybe DeMarcus Couins could go to Cleveland for the [Brooklyn Nets] pick. What’s the point of that, if you’re New Orleans?

The Pelicans are currently tittering around the final playoff spot in the Western Conference hold an 18-18 record through the 36 games played. Cousins has been one of the biggest reasons why the team has been around that mark near the halfway point.

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The 27-year-old is currently averaging 26.2 points on 47.9 percent shooting from the field along with 12.5 rebounds, a career-high 5.2 assists, and 1.5 blocks. He and Anthony Davis have formed a formidable duo over their brief tenure together that has seen them take that to another level this season by each recording at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in the same game 12 times.

In fact, Cousins and Davis are two of three players in the NBA currently averaging at least 25 points and 10 rebounds per contest. Meanwhile, the former is the only player in the league averaging 25 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists.

Unless things fall apart over the next month, the Pelicans will take their chance to go through the duration of the season to see if their dynamic duo can lead them to a deep playoff run.