Pelicans free agent defections raise questions

When the New Orleans Pelicans ended their season with a loss in the Western Conference Semifinals to the Golden State Warriors, the prevailing thought was that the team build around its core of Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday and Rajon Rondo, while retaining or trading DeMarcus Cousins.

Things haven’t quite worked out according to plan. Today, the Pelicans are without both Cousins and Rondo. In their place are Elfrid Payton and Julius Randle.

The potential basketball impact of that, we discussed earlier this week. But we need to talk about what is or isn’t happening between the Pelicans franchise and its players.

On his way out, DeMarcus Cousins told The Undefeated’s Marc Spears that he never received an offer from the Pelicans. But, recently Marc Stein of The New York Times reported that Cousins rejected a 2-year, $40 million deal made by the Pels that came after he tore his Achilles.

Cousins never held a reportedly scheduled meeting with the Pelicans once free agency began. And he refused to work with the team on a sign-and-trade that would have paid him far more than the $5.3 million he got from the Golden State Warriors.

It was a strange and contentious conclusion to Cousins’ tenure with the Pelicans, as the front office disputed Boogie’s claims.

There had been rumblings throughout the regular season that Cousins wasn’t fitting in as well as it seemed. In late January, Sporting News reported that Gentry and the front office had discussed trading Boogie due to his “disrespectful treatment of coaches and teammates.”

But all seemed to be fine as Cousins was constantly a topic of discussion as the team made its push to the playoffs. When the Pelicans were on the West Coast for their clinching road trip, Boogie was at practice. He got a strong a hug as anyone from Gayle Benson in the locker room following the win over the Clippers that made it official.

Boogie was on the bench when the Pelicans completed their sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round.

And then he was gone. It started with his conspicuous absence during the next round against Golden State. After the series ended, he un-followed the Pelicans on social media. General Manager Dell Demps spoke of a “perfect world” where Cousins and Rondo would return to New Orleans.

But the world came crashing down when Rondo signed with the Lakers. It was a move that caught the front office and apparently Anthony Davis off-guard.

What could possibly make Rondo, who has very publicly cultivated an on-court disdain for LeBron James dating back to the battles between his Celtics and James’ teams in Cleveland and Miami, join the King in his new kingdom? Especially when that kingdom resides in the Staples Center.

Rondo was said to have asked for the full Mid Level Exemption for New Orleans while the club offered a figure less than that. The Pelicans never heard back from their point guard before he signed to play in L.A.

So, what broke down? Was it the situation with Cousins? Was it just Rondo chasing one more championship?

Who knows?

The Pelicans are a tight-lipped organization, just like their roommates on Airline Drive, the New Orleans Saints. We may never find out what really happened behind the scenes.

We will, however, learn the impact of those events as soon as the 2018-19 season begins. And we already know that rumors of trading Davis or his leaving as a free agent will persist until his signature is on a new contract.

If things work out, Demps will be hailed as a genius. If there’s any regression, he’ll be a pariah.

Just another NBA offseason in New Orleans.