The New Orleans Pelicans will have some decisions to make in the summer. Following an unforeseen 4-0 mauling of the third-seeded Portland Trail Blazers, the organization will have to assess the impending free agency of their starting center, DeMarcus Cousins over the offseason.
Yet what was thought to be a sure-fire five-year max extension coming his way, no longer is.
According to ESPN's Zach Lowe, the organization has “broached internally” the idea of offering the big man a two or three-year deal for less than the max — an offer that isn't expected to go over well with his camp.
There's incredible risk by offering Cousins a five-year max deal — the most evident being the luxury tax, already having big contracts with Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday — two players that are proving worth every penny so far this postseason.
If the Pelicans wanted to re-sign Rajon Rondo, it's sure he will also command more than the veteran's minimum for his services, making that yet another concern of a summer full of variables.
Cousins' market isn't as great as expected, despite averaging a monstrous 25.2 points and 12.9 rebounds through 48 games before tearing his Achilles tendon midway through the season.
His volatility is still very much a factor to rebuilding front offices and only five or six teams have the available max-level cap space to sign him to a deal he deems worthy of his services.
The Pelicans also have the dual leverage of amassing a better record without him in the regular season, as well as playoff success — making it a much tougher proposition than anticipated.
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