In the aftermath of the DeMarcus Cousins trade, pundits believe that the balance of power in the Western Conference.
With Cousins joining Anthony Davis, two of the highest ranked frontline players in the league today, the New Orleans Pelicans may pull an upset.
There is no doubt that the team has improved, but are they a playoff team now (they're still in 11th place at the moment, just two and a half games behind 8th place Denver Nuggets), let alone a giant killer?
The experts from ESPN Insider weigh in. How will Davis and Cousins play together? Amin Elhassan is positive that they could get along.
"They'll play well together, as Cousins will benefit from Davis' ability to space offensively and his length on the defensive end, while Davis can benefit from Cousins' passing and elite rebounding."
That being said, the two players thrived being the cornerstones of their franchise. Also, the Pelicans thrived when they went small-ball with Anthony Davis at center. They can't employ that now. Elhassan noted that when Davis is "playing the role of the stretch big, he's a lot less aggressive rolling to the basket off pick-and-roll and crashing offensive glass, and that makes him less than what he could be as a player."
Justin Verrier is much more optimistic: "Cousins can keep the big bodies off Davis and provide some needed pop to the 27th-ranked offense; Davis' rim protection and stretchiness can provide Cousins cover and space."
Are the New Orleans Pelicans now considered a Western Conference power?
David Thorpe is not so sure: "Could this deal form the foundation of a contending team? Without a doubt. It's not a complete team yet, but if it were a stock, everyone would be buying it."
Jeremias Engelmann echoes the sentiment: "The Pelicans just got a gift from the worst management in the NBA, but unless they bring in new decision-makers I don't see them putting a successful team around these two superstars."
However, if the Pelicans think they will have a seamless transition with Cousins, they might be in for a surprise. There is a reason why the other 28 teams did not try and outbid them. The team with the most trade assets didn't even budge.
In a Boston Globe piece, it was revealed that the Celtics, specifically Danny Ainge, was not even interested. An anonymous source stated: "It's not just that he can be emotional on the court. It's just playing with him every day. Like, when a coach says he can't coach him, you lose credibility. You can't sustain things that are important to winning if a coach isn't able to hold him accountable."
"The source emphasized that Cousins was generally viewed as a good person off the court by those around him, but that his on-court demeanor and effort have often come into question," the report stated.