For NBA franchises, particularly ones in smaller markets, it's a tough choice that has become more common in recent years: Risk losing a star for nothing before that player enters free agency, or chase assets in a trade that could ultimately yield a poor return.
The Thunder and Pelicans find themselves in that position with Paul George and DeMarcus Cousins. Both players will hit free agency this summer, leading to speculation that they could be on the block ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline. While it's fun to imagine scenarios in which George and Cousins end up wearing new uniforms, it's unlikely you'll see either one leaving his current team.
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Oklahoma City has no intention of trading George, and New Orleans is committed to re-signing Cousins this offseason, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. And really, this makes a lot of sense for the Thunder and Pelicans given their current situations.
Why the Thunder won't trade Paul George
Despite early struggles and frustration as of late — Russell Westbrook left the locker room without speaking to the media after Tuesday night's 117-106 loss to the Trail Blazers — the Thunder are 23-20 overall, good for fifth in the Western Conference with the seventh-best net rating (plus-2.4) in the NBA. Billy Donovan and his players knew this would be a season-long undertaking, and they realize there is plenty of work to be done in to reach a sustained level of excellence.
George's scoring has unsurprisingly dropped from his days as the focal point of the offense with the Pacers. That happens when adapting to a new style of play alongside teammates like Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony, as well as a new system. The offense has steadily improved since the start of December, and George is averaging 20.8 points while shooting 47.4 percent from 3-point range on 6.8 attempts per game in that span.
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We've also seen how scary George can make OKC on the defensive end. He's leading the league in steals (2.2) and deflections (4.5) per game, and he's second in loose balls recovered (1.8). Simply put, George has been one of the best defenders in the league this season, and he's one of the few guys who presents some kind of challenge for top-shelf scorers like Kevin Durant...
... and possesses the quickness and awareness to create problems as a help defender.
The Thunder's defense has taken a few steps back in January with Andre Roberson sidelined by a knee injury. (OKC holds a defensive rating of 109.3 in its last five games compared to a season-long mark of 103.) We've seen flashes of what this team could be, but it's still a process in putting elite offense and defense together for prolonged stretches.
But general manager Sam Presti knew that was the deal when he acquired George in exchange for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis, and later Anthony for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott and a 2018 draft pick. There was always some risk in adding George amid all the whispers of his desire to play for the Lakers, but the Thunder decided the risk was worth it. OKC won't be putting George on the table any time soon.
Why the Pelicans won't trade DeMarcus Cousins
The Pelicans put all their eggs in the big-man basket ahead of last year's trade deadline when they stole Cousins away from the Kings in a blockbuster deal at the All-Star break. New Orleans missed out on a playoff spot, finishing 34-48 overall, but Cousins found success next to Anthony Davis, as the pairing had an offensive rating of 102.5 and a defensive rating of 99.6 while on the floor together.
This season, Cousins and Davis have pushed New Orleans into the seventh playoff spot in the Western Conference with a 21-20 record. The dynamic frontcourt duo has combined for more than 50 points and 20 rebounds per game, forcing the front office to at least let this experiment play out a little longer.
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Cousins and Davis work well together because of their insane abilities to make guard plays and reads in giant bodies. Both big men force defenses to respect them from the perimeter, as Cousins and Davis are each shooting over 35 percent from 3-point range. That creates unorthodox pick-and-pop opportunities.
That's just not fair. And if a help defender drops down a bit too far on post-ups, they know how to find the open man.
Even with Cousins and Davis performing at All-Star levels, the Pelicans have remained within two games of .500 for the entire first half of the season. Cousins or Davis on the floor can at least keep the ship from sinking, but when both sit, the team absolutely craters, particularly on defense (an atrocious 121.7 defensive rating when Cousins and Davis are on the bench).
Jrue Holiday and E'Twaun Moore have provided some scoring punch at guard, but New Orleans is in desperate need of wings. Tony Allen and Solomon Hill are still down with injuries. The Pelicans should take a look at the market for wings ahead of the trade deadline, though that could be a challenge given their cap constraints moving forward.
Granted the roster is far from perfect, New Orleans is in the thick of the postseason race. That's enough right now to allow the Pelicans to reject nearly all Cousins trade offers without a second thought.
