One of the most impressive feats accomplished throughout the NBA this season was the New Orleans Pelicans staying afloat and even winning a playoff series after superstar big DeMarcus Cousins was ruled out for the season with a ruptured Achilles.
The MVP-caliber play of Anthony Davis surely helped their cause, but the coaching down the stretch by Alvin Gentry cannot go overlooked. Gentry devised the perfect scheme to make easy work of the Portland Trail Blazers and their star backcourt, sweeping them in the first round of the playoffs. With the offseason now looming, the Pelicans have decided to lock up their guy for two more years according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski:
New Orleans Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry has agreed to a two-year contract extension that will take his deal through the 2020-21 season, league sources told ESPN.
Gentry will receive a raise on his 2018-19 salary, a guaranteed contract for 2019-20 and a 2020-21 contract that will be performance-based, league sources said.
Alvin Gentry, now three years deep into his tenure with the Pelicans, made the postseason for the first time with the club last season. However, the way he has developed Anthony Davis into an all-world talent and rejuvenated guard Jrue Holiday last year, the veteran head coach was more than deserving of an extension.
The Pelicans will have some pressing matters to address this offseason. With Alvin Gentry locked in for the next three seasons, he along with the New Orleans front office must determine what their plan is with DeMarcus Cousins.
A winning blueprint was laid down for the Pelicans with Davis getting the bulk of his minutes at center following the All-Star break and the sharpshooting Nikola Mirotic serving as a stretch four. Mirotic could potentially slot in at small forward when Cousins comes back healthy next year, but it remains to be seen whether they are willing to gamble on the great chemistry they built towards the end of last season.
Look for Gentry and his Pelicans to be in the thick of the Western Conference playoff hunt again next year, as he continues to establish himself in the top tier of NBA coaches.
