Why Nuggets and Wolves should thank the 2017-18 Pelicans

Watching these two teams success this season and in the playoffs, it made me think about the 2017-18 pelicans. Heres a reminder of what that team was prime AD, prime Boogie Cousins (MVP candidate before he got hurt) defensive guard Jrue and vet playmaker Rondo. AD in a recent podcast- talks about how dangerous that team could have been and that they could have dethroned the warriors if healthy. Dell Demps got a lot of hate but he deserves a lot of credit for assembling a team like that.

Now lets look at Nuggets and Wolves. Nuggets have 2 mobile bigs as well in Gordon and Jokic, dynamic playmaker in Murray and a defensive guard in KCP. The Wolves have 2 mobile bigs in Gobert and KAT, dynamic playmaker in ANT and defensive vet guard in Conley. Obviously there are some ancillary pieces that are different and important like MPJ, and Jaden Mcdaniels. Also the greatness of players like ANT and Jokic. But the formula is very similar to what Demps wanted to do in nola. Now the architects for both these Denver and Minn teams is Tim Connely(assistant gm in nola under Demps) and both those coaches (Malone and Finch)- were also assistant coaches in nola. To top it off the guy who pushed Connely for the Gobert trade was you guessed it former pelicans gm Demps who is now with Connely in Minn.

So when watching these two great teams just remember it was the 2018 pelicans that started it all and then get depressed knowing if Boogie’s achilles doesnt snap what greatness that team could have achieved.