NBA: Pels coach Gentry on cousins: “Would like him back on the team”

The head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans, Alvin Gentry, has commented on the situation around Free Agent DeMarcus cousins. He emphasized that the center is to be reengaged at all costs.

“I don’t like to talk about the Free Agency, but in the end it’s obvious that we want him back on the team,” Gentry told ESPN. “Anyone who thinks they’d be better without a guy who plays 25 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists per game has no idea how to be successful in this league. “There’s no one in this organization who doesn’t want him back.”

The 61-year-old also did not want to know anything about the rumours that the Pelicans were better without cousins than with him: “Everyone seems to forget that we had just beaten Houston and won eight out of ten games before. So we were pretty good with him, too.”

Cousins tore his Achilles tendon in the match against the Rockets on January 27 and was eliminated for the rest of the season. Without the All-Star the Pels nevertheless made a strong final spurt, which carried them into the Conference Semifinals.

Cousins himself, on the other hand, sees his free agency more from the side of the businessman. “I know my teammates would like me back, but it’s all business,” the 27-year-old told ESPN. “The people in the front office will make the best decision for the team. We’ll see what happens.”

When asked if he could imagine signing with the Pelicans again, he replied calmly. “Yes, of course. It’s my first free agency, but I’ve been in business long enough. I know how things work here. “I will make the best decision for myself and the teams will do the same.”