NBA Rumors: Every team’s biggest priority heading into the 2018 offseason

SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 01: (L-R) Tony Parker #9 and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs sit on the bench in the fourth quarter during Game One of the NBA Western Conference Semi-Finals against the Houston Rockets at AT&T Center on May 1, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 01: (L-R) Tony Parker #9 and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs sit on the bench in the fourth quarter during Game One of the NBA Western Conference Semi-Finals against the Houston Rockets at AT&T Center on May 1, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NOVEMBER 07: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans celebrates in the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 7, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NOVEMBER 07: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans celebrates in the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 7, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

New Orleans Pelicans

Biggest Priority: Letting DeMarcus Cousins walk 

The New Orleans Pelicans went on an impressive tear towards the latter portion of this past season, while sweeping the Portland Trail Blazers out of the first round of the playoffs before being ousted by the Golden State Warriors in five games.

But the biggest thing that they perhaps learned the most wasn’t that they were the third best team in the conference. Instead, it was that they might be a better team without DeMarcus Cousins.

Cousins, who is coming off a major injury, is still likely going to command max money on the open market. Instead of paying him that money, the Pelicans could – and should – use that money more wisely on other pieces to surround Anthony Davis.