Dell Demps GM Pelicans only have kind words for DeMarcus Cousins

17 months ago, DeMarcus Cousins ​​was traded from Sacramento to New Orleans, the new member of the Pelicans, bringing undisputed basketball gifts, but overwhelmed by an image that weighed about three tons.

. The pelicans were good for Cousins, and he was, according to the New Orleans general manager, Dell Demps, good for them

<p clbad = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm "type =" text "content =" "We were successful, and things are good when you win games," said Demps Wednesday The Warriors Insider Podcast "Many times, when you lose games, things get magnified. "Data-reactid =" 17 ">" We were successful, and things are good when we win games, "said Demps Wednesday The Warriors Insider Podcast Many times when you lose games, things get magnified. "I do not know what happened in Sacramento … but I know his time with us, we had success with him, it was a good race.

Yet when Cousins ​​became a free agent in July, discussions with the pelicans did not go beyond the conversation stage.The 6-foot-11 center reached out to the Warriors and finished by leaving New Orleans.

"I understand," said Cousins ​​returning on his time with pelicans in a video clip Showtime released Wednesday. "They had a great year, they do not want to spoil it taking a chance on me, I'm a damaged player. "

A Sacramento for most of In the productive years that have been alternately trying and turbulent, the first full season of Cousins ​​in New Orleans was undoubtedly the best of his career. He had an average of 25.2 points on 47% (35.4% depth), 12.9 career rebounds and 5.4 career badists when he suffered a Achilles tendon tear on the 26th. January.

This injury cost Cousins ​​his

The injury, which can take up to a year to heal completely, occurred in the final seconds of a 115 victory. -113 on the Rockets which was the seventh win in eight games for New Orleans. Cousins ​​had posted a triple-double: 15 points, 13 rebounds and 11 badists.

"When he was injured, we were fourth in the West," Demps said. "It was a sad day, there was a cloud over the city, for a little while.

"But we only want (Cousins) the best. It's a good guy, it's a tough guy, he's going to compete and he's an incredible basketball player.

Demps cited Cousins' relationship with pelican star Anthony Davis as a factor in facilitating the transition from Cousins ​​to New Orleans. Although Cousins ​​still played with a lot of emotion last season, he made a technical foul on average every 4.8 games, the lowest ratio since 2011-12, his second season with the Kings .

The popularity of Cousins ​​has reached an ovation level when he is shown on the scoreboard during the third game of the first-round playoff series between the Pelicans and Trail Blazers. This was followed by songs from "Boogie, Boogie, Boogie."

The Warriors hope that the show can be repeated during the next season. Cousins ​​will probably miss a lot of the start of the season, but he hopes to come back, healthy and active, before the next calendar year.

As for concerns about Cousins ​​that have a negative impact on the Warriors' fast play style – he's known to do his best work in the half-court – Demps offered a little rebuttal.

"We played rhythmically with DeMarcus," he said. "When he came out, I think we were sixth in the rhythm, it'll be fine, the talent has a way to understand it."

For the record, the Pelicans were sixth in speed. They did, however, accelerate to another level after the fall of Cousins. They finished number 1.