extension

Jim Eichenhofer

During the opening week of NBA free agency, the landscape of the ultra-competitive Western Conference changed significantly, with some teams making momentous additions (San Antonio), while others were weakened by the departure of key players (Portland). Meanwhile, in New Orleans, the Pelicans weren’t part of either development, opting to bring back several of their own free agents, keeping a roster together that earned the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2010-11.

In just over the time it takes to send a tweet, two-time All-Star forward Anthony Davis agreed to a long-term extension with New Orleans at the July 1 start of free agency (it was actually still June 30 in the Central time zone). In the ensuing days, Pelicans frontcourt contributors and unrestricted free agents Omer Asik, Alexis Ajinca and Dante Cunningham also came to terms, ensuring that they’d be under contract for 2015-16.

As a result, among New Orleans’ 10 leading scorers who finished 2014-15 on the roster, nine are back in the fold, with point guard Norris Cole’s status still to be determined in restricted free agency. All nine of its leading rebounders remain in the Big Easy. That gives the Pelicans perhaps the most 2015-16 roster continuity in the entire NBA, a league that has seen seismic changes in July. In the Southwest Division alone, Dallas lost starters Monta Ellis and Tyson Chandler. Memphis picked up Matt Barnes and Brandan Wright, but saw Kosta Koufous leave in free agency. San Antonio made immense additions by landing LaMarcus Aldridge and David West, while letting go of past key role players Tiago Splitter, Marco Belinelli and Cory Joseph.

For the Pelicans, the summer of 2015 reverses a recent trend of turning over a large portion of the roster in recent offseasons. Based on Basketball Reference’s “roster continuity” metric – a statistic that measures year-to-year changes on NBA rosters – New Orleans has relied on new faces more often than many teams. For instance, during the first three seasons of Dell Demps’ tenure as general manager, less than half of the team’s minutes were logged by players who were on the previous year’s roster (45 percent in 2010-11; 48 percent in 2011-12; 41 percent in 2012-13).

Perhaps not coincidentally, New Orleans enjoyed 66 percent roster continuity in 2014-15, its highest rate since 2008-09, en route to reaching the postseason. Over the franchise’s last 12 seasons (the 2002-03 campaign does not count because it is technically deemed an expansion year in the record books), NOLA’s best roster continuity rate was 78 percent in 2007-08. The then-Hornets compiled the finest season in franchise history that season, finishing 56-26 in the regular season, capturing the club’s lone division title and reaching Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Although 100 percent roster continuity is virtually impossible to achieve, the Pelicans appear poised to finish near the top of the league in that category next season. That’s usually a good thing: During the 2014-15 season, the three rosters with the most continuity all won 50-plus games, including San Antonio (98 percent continuity, 55-27 record), Atlanta (88 percent, Eastern Conference-best 60-22) and Memphis (85 percent, 55-27). NBA champion Golden State (67-15) used 80 percent of its on-court minutes on players who were also part of the 2013-14 Warriors.

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Pelicans stressing roster continuity in free agency

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Anthony Davis Signs Contract Extension in Hong Kong

anthony-davis-signs-contract-extension-in-hong-kong

Vice president of digital media for New Orleans Pelicans.

Pelicans.com

HONG KONG – Sitting seemingly on top of the world in a Ritz-Carlton conference room 118 stories above the majestic Victoria Harbour, Anthony Davis signed his five-year contract extension with the New Orleans Pelicans at 12:01 p.m. Thursday, 11:01 p.m. Wednesday in the Crescent City, nearly 8,500 miles away.

Davis was in this vibrant port city of 7.2 million people as part of a promotional tour for Nike called Rise. And it's only fitting that one of the league's fastest rising stars cemented his future with the Pelicans while in China, which has one of the fastest growing segments of the NBA's fan base.

Flanked by his parents Erainer and Anthony Sr. and his agent Thad Foucher and with the skyscrapers of the former British Colony in the background, Davis signed the contract with a black Mont Blanc pen and then expressed his appreciation to Pelicans fans.

"Thanks to the Pelicans organization and all my fans across the world, China and the United States and especially New Orleans. … I'm here for six more years. Let's win some championships. Go Pels!"

Davis began that championship process this past season when he led New Orleans to the playoffs for the first time since the 2010-11 season. Davis finished the season averaging 24.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks a game, tops in the NBA. He was voted a starter to the All-Star Game for the first time in his three-year career and was a top MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player candidate. He also had the league's best player efficiency rating.

Even though the Pelicans were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by eventual NBA champion Golden State, expectations are high for Davis and the Pelicans now that he's committed to the franchise for six more years and that the team has hired Alvin Gentry as head coach. Gentry has said he plans to have his team play at a much faster pace this season with Davis, a 6-foot-10, 220-pound athletic marvel, as the featured element.

Davis' signing was the first of four for the Pelicans as they also signed centers Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca and forward Dante Cunningham to new deals.

Davis arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday for an Asian tour put on by Nike, another sign of his rise to prominence in the global sports world.

He was mobbed by teen-age fans, some sporting Pelicans jerseys, after he finished a basketball clinic at a court in the middle of a public housing area in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Laundry flapped from the windows of the 20-story apartment buildings surrounding the court on a hot humid afternoon as Davis spoke to the children about putting in the work necessary for their dreams to become reality. It's something Davis has been doing for the Pelicans since they selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2012.

"Find that special thing inside of you to reach your dreams," said Davis, a 22-year-old just a few years removed from a relatively quiet high school basketball career in Chicago. "Capture that glory."

anthony-davis-with-family-beside-him-signs-contract-extension-in-hong-kong

Anthony Davis, with family beside him, signs contract extension in Hong Kong

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Pelicans today announced that at 12:01 p.m. local time in Hong Kong, China, All-Star forward Anthony Davis signed a contract extension with the club. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Words cannot describe the excitement of the New Orleans Pelicans to have Anthony Davis as the cornerstone of our organization,” said Pelicans General Manager Dell Demps. “Anthony is a great person, a phenomenal player and the ideal representative of his family, the Pelicans and the New Orleans community.

“We are thrilled to have Anthony commit to the Pelicans as we continue to build our team to have sustained success.”

Davis has appeared in 199 games over his first three seasons in the NBA, all with New Orleans, posting career averages of 19.7 points while shooting .525 from the field, 9.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.5 blocks per game. The 6-10 forward currently ranks fifth in New Orleans franchise history in defensive rebounds (1,346) total rebounds (1,891) and steals (264), third in points (3,917), points per game and field goal percentage, second in rebounding average (9.5) and first in blocks (501).

“I am very excited to continue to play for the Pelicans and remain a proud resident of the City of New Orleans,” stated Davis. “I want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Benson, Dell Demps, Coach Gentry, the entire Pelicans’ organization, my agent Thad Foucher, my family and, of course, all of the incredible fans for their unwavering support. I look forward to many great years together.”

Originally selected by New Orleans with the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, Davis earned All-Rookie First Team honors after appearing in 64 games and averaging 13.5 points on .516 shooting from the floor, 8.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. In 2013-14, the Chicago native appeared in 67 games, averaging 20.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and a league-best 2.8 blocks per game while being named to his first All-Star Game. This past season, 2014-15, Davis, 22, averaged a career-best 24.4 points on .535 shooting from the floor, 10.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game, ranking fourth, seventh, eighth, and first in the NBA in those respective statistical categories. Davis was selected to his second All-Star game, his first as a starter, while earning All-Defensive Second Team and All-NBA First Team honors, and helping New Orleans make their first playoff appearance since 2011. In four post-season games against the Golden State Warriors, Davis averaged 31.5 points on .540 shooting from the floor, 10.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks, becoming the first player in 41 years to average at least 30 points and 10 rebounds through their first four career playoff games.

pelicans-sign-anthony-davis-to-contract-extension

Pelicans Sign Anthony Davis to Contract Extension

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