Keyword, Playoff! Not Title Just Yet. . .
Last February, the New Orleans Pelicans made a blockbuster mid-season trade, acquiring DeMarcus Cousins. The disgruntled center was finally granted his release from the Sacramento Kings, to partner with a fellow Kentucky Wildcat great, Anthony Davis.
With Davis locked into a max-deal for the next four seasons, the team is surprisingly doing right by him, getting talent that can turn the franchise around. Last week, the team made one of the most underrated signings this summer, signing Rajon Rondo to a 1-year deal.
This move in our opinion, could guarantee them a playoff seed in the west and scare a few top teams. Boogie, who played with Rondo in 2016, was one of the major voices getting him to the team. That same season, Rajon led the entire NBA in assist at 11.7 a game.
Unfortunately, he saw limited minutes with the Chicago Bulls last season, but his presence was felt in the playoffs – as the they almost upset the Boston Celtics before catching the injury bug. This move will now allow Jrue Holiday to move back to his natural position of being a shooting guard, where Rondo can be the on-floor coach and defensive general with The Brow.
With a full training camp and pre-season together, Boogie, Brow, Jrue and now Rondo just need time to mesh this year. We’re not predicting a championship or that they’ll be a top 4 team out west. But, with a small-forward acquisition, the team can be special after the 2018 season.
This all comes down to Rondo managing egos, with ball-distribution, as he literally has a perfection situation with the Pelicans. Following back-to-back losing seasons, New Orleans has positioned themselves to make a little noise next April – if they remain healthy to make the playoffs.