As the offseason continues, it keeps getting interesting to see where will the rest of the free-agents in the NBA land and what moves teams make. One of the teams that have been relatively quiet this summer is the new orleans Pelicans. The 2016/2017 season was a failure for the Pelicans as they failed to reach the playoffs for the second straight time. They finished the season with a 34-48 record in the Western Conference Standings, and the last time they played a playoff game was during the 2014/2015 season. The Pelicans acquired DeMarcus Cousins midway through last season, and they were hoping that Cousins and Davis would lead them to the playoff, but that didn't happen.
It became evident that Cousins and Davis need an experienced playmaker by their side to make things work. Shams Charania of The Vertical reported that New Orleans found exactly what they've been looking for summer, as they reportedly signed a former All-Star point guard.
Rajon Rondo teaming up with Cousins and Davis
The Vertical reported the news that Rajon Rondo and the New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to a one-year deal. Rondo was a free-agent this summer, and it is still unknown how much will the deal with the Pelicans be worth. He is a four-time All-Star, and last season he played 69 games for the Chicago Bulls. Rondo spent the majority of his career playing for the Boston Celtics, establishing himself as one of the best point guards in the league.
Sources: Rajon Rondo agrees to one-year deal with Pelicans. @ShamsCharania report. https://t.co/3QuAdMnanj
— The Vertical (@TheVertical) 15 July 2017
Last season with the Bulls, Rondo averaged 7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game while playing an average of 26.7 minutes per game. Rondo is an 11-year NBA veteran, with championship pedigree and great court vision.
Rondo has already played on the same team with DeMarcus Cousins as the two of them were teammates during the 2015/2016 season in Sacramento. Apparently, Rondo and Cousins formed a strong bond during their playing days with the Kings, and it's going to be interesting to see them in the same uniform again next season. The 6-foot-1 point guard from Louisville holds career averages of 10.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game.
Pelicans looking to make the playoffs
Earlier this summer, the Pelicans re-signed their starting point guard Jrue Holiday to a five-year contract worth $126 million. Now with Rajon Rondo in the mix, it seems like Holiday might spend some minutes at the shooting guard position as well. Rondo and Holiday form a strong combination in the Pelicans' backcourt, and with Cousins and Davis in the frontcourt, the Pelicans are looking to make a deep run in the playoffs next season. It will be hard as the Western Conference is now stacked with plenty of great teams and good players, but the fans in New Orleans are expecting a lot from their team next season.