The 2017-18 New Orleans Pelicans roster represented a fascinating basketball experiment, built around a superstar frontcourt before the inevitable franchise overhaul. Led by Anthony Davis in his absolute prime, alongside high-IQ playmaking and a high-paced offensive system under head coach Alvin Gentry, the team captured the imagination of the Western Conference before injuries and contract realities altered the trajectory. Understanding this specific roster provides vital context for how modern front offices construct supporting casts around elite talent, and why even playoff success couldn't prevent a eventual blockbuster trade.
Before the organization traded Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2019, the franchise experienced a brief window of genuine competitiveness. They swept the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 2018 playoffs, showcasing a lethal combination of interior dominance and perimeter versatility. Yet, maintaining that momentum proved unsustainable. Let's examine the foundational pieces, the tactical identity, and the systemic flaws of that memorable era.
The Twin Towers: Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins
The entire identity of the 2017-18 Pelicans rested on the frontcourt pairing of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. When general manager Dell Demps traded for Cousins during the 2017 All-Star break, it signaled a bold shift toward playing two elite, modern big men simultaneously.
Anthony Davis was entering his peak years, averaging 28.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game during the 2017-18 campaign. His combination of fluidity, rim protection, and expanding three-point range made him nearly unguardable. Opposite him, DeMarcus Cousins provided a ferocious offensive hub who could stretch the floor, pass out of double teams, and punish switches on the block. Before Cousins tore his Achilles tendon in January 2018 against the Houston Rockets, the duo posted a 27-21 record and looked like a legitimate threat to upend the Western Conference hierarchy.
- Anthony Davis: Elite two-way dynamo who anchored the defense while shouldering a massive offensive load.
- DeMarcus Cousins: Playmaking center whose shooting gravity opened driving lanes for teammates until his season-ending injury.
- The Fit: They pushed the pace despite their size, forcing traditional defenses into uncomfortable mismatches.
Backcourt Orchestration: Jrue Holiday and Rajon Rondo
While the frontcourt grabbed headlines, the backcourt provided the competitive grit and defensive tenacity that defined the team's identity. Jrue Holiday quietly emerged as one of the best two-way guards in the entire NBA. Shifted primarily to his natural shooting guard position, Holiday poured in nearly 19 points per game while locking down elite opposing guards on the perimeter, earning NBA All-Defensive First Team honors.
Pairing Holiday with veteran point guard Rajon Rondo gave New Orleans a brilliant floor general. Though Rondo's regular-season numbers looked modest, his basketball IQ transformed the locker room and unlocked another gear in the postseason. Rondo's historic 22-assist playoff game against Portland stands as a testament to how well he could orchestrate Gentry's fast-paced scheme.
The Supporting Cast and Wing Depth
Surrounding a star-studded core requires reliable role players who can hit open shots and defend multiple positions. The Pelicans scoured the market for value pieces to fill out the rotation. E'Twaun Moore became a revelation as an efficient floor-spacer, shooting over 42 percent from beyond the arc while starting 82 games.
Solomon Hill and Dante Cunningham brought much-needed wing defense, though injuries often limited Hill's availability. Following the Cousins injury, the front office pivoted mid-season by trading for Nikola Mirotić. Mirotić proved to be an exceptional acquisition, providing immediate floor-spacing that allowed Davis to operate in single coverage inside. Veteran contributors like Jameer Nelson and Ian Clark added valuable bench minutes, stabilizing the second unit when games grew tight.
Tactical Identity: Playing Fast with Space
Alvin Gentry implemented an up-tempo offensive philosophy that prioritized pushing the ball immediately after defensive rebounds. According to historical tracking data, the Pelicans played at one of the fastest paces in the league during the 2017-18 season.
This strategy leveraged Davis's extraordinary speed in transition. Most centers could not keep pace with him running the floor. When opponents collapsed to stop Davis, kick-out passes found shooters like Moore, Mirotić, and Clark waiting on the perimeter. Defensively, the scheme relied heavily on Davis acting as a roaming safety net at the rim, masking occasional breakdowns on the perimeter.
Why the Core Ultimately Dissolved
Despite reaching the Western Conference Semifinals in 2018, the roster had a razor-thin margin for error. The Achilles injury suffered by Cousins altered the franchise's financial and competitive calculus. New Orleans chose not to offer Cousins a maximum extension, leaving them thin on interior depth moving forward.
Subsequent roster adjustments failed to replicate the magic of that healthy half-season. Cap space constraints, underwhelming draft returns in previous years, and mounting frustration regarding the team's overall ceiling led to Anthony Davis requesting a trade. The subsequent blockbuster deal with the Los Angeles Lakers brought in Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, and Josh Hart, effectively turning the page on an era that promised so much more than it ultimately delivered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the record of the 2017-18 New Orleans Pelicans?
The team finished the regular season with a 48-34 record, securing the sixth seed in a fiercely competitive Western Conference and sweeping the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs.
Who were the key players traded for Anthony Davis?
When Anthony Davis was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in June 2019, the Pelicans received Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, and multiple first-round draft picks, which later facilitated the selection of future foundational pieces.
How did the DeMarcus Cousins injury change the team?
Cousins tore his Achilles tendon in January 2018. While the team rallied brilliantly behind mid-season addition Nikola Mirotić to win a playoff series, losing Cousins permanently altered the front office's long-term roster construction strategy.
What offensive system did coach Alvin Gentry run?
Gentry favored a fast-paced, high-possession offense that emphasized transition opportunities, early-clock three-pointers, and putting athletic big men in positions to attack unsettled defenses.
