Report: Davis 'pretty confident' Cousins will re-sign with Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousins is headed toward unrestricted free agency while recovering from a torn Achilles, but if frontcourt mate Anthony Davis has his way, the big man will stick around.
"I hope so," Davis told Marc Stein of the New York Times on Sunday when asked if he thinks New Orleans will re-sign Cousins this summer. "That's a decision he has to make.
"I'm pretty confident that he'll stay. From what I hear, he plans on it. But I'm going to keep selling the dream here. I'll be very involved -- I want him here."
Stein added that the Pelicans were originally expected to offer Cousins the maximum five-year, $175 million extension prior to his injury.
In their first full season as teammates, Cousins and Davis were on pace to be the first duo in NBA history to each average at least 25 points and 10 rebounds per game. The 27-year-old Cousins was averaging 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 blocks -- all career highs -- through 48 games when he tore his Achilles tendon Jan. 26, requiring season-ending surgery.
Davis, 24, carried averages of 28.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.2 blocks per game into Wednesday night's game against the Kings.
Entering Wednesday, the Pelicans had won nine consecutive games to move into the fourth spot in the Western Conference after starting 1-5 through the first six contests without Cousins.
--Field Level Media
