The New Orleans Pelicans almost traded for Nikola Mirotic, but the deal quickly fell apart.

It appears there is now some reasoning behind the deal not going through. The Pelicans, one of the most frugal franchises in the NBA, are worried about their cap situation this summer, per Scott Kushner of The New Orleans Advocate.

The Pelicans are smart to think that far ahead. Mirotic wants that $12.5 million, but he would be giving up a guarantee on that money if the team option is exercised. That guaranteed money would hamper the cap situation for the Pelicans.

And per Kushner, the Pelicans are trying to avoid getting into the luxury tax at all costs.

Money is always one of the biggest snags in trades in the NBA. It usually comes in the form of contracts, options, guarantees on salary, and exceptions for a team. It's often confusing, but in this case, the situation is quite obvious and telling.

The Pelicans want Mirotic, but not badly enough to guarantee the money on a team option. Also, Mirotic would lose his full Bird rights if he agreed to the trade and the Pelicans did not pick up the option. If that happens, it makes it harder for New Orleans to sign him because they would have to use one of their exceptions.

It's a convoluted situation, but the Pelicans are not a big-market team with money to burn. They have to be very careful with their finances, and it appears doing so will lead them to not end up with Mirotic at all.

And that affects Cousins positively because he is obviously the priority for the Pelicans, who won't make a deal if it jeopardizes Cousins' future with the franchise.