Dante Cunningham and New Orleans Pelicans have agreed upon a three-year deal worth $9 million, according to multiple reports. The third year is a player option.
Cunningham was a starter for the Pelicans for half the season but lost his job to Quincy Pondexter near the All-Star break. He averaged 5.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game for the Pelicans last year. Although his stats don't show a lot of production, the coaching staff trusts him enough to play him. Cunningham averaged 25 minutes a game last year and was a key bench contributor.
Cunningham is a solid backup to Anthony Davis and he knows his role on the team. Cunningham is just another New Orleans big man who signed a new deal with the Pelicans. Anthony Davis signed a five-year extension, Alexis Ajinca signed a four-year deal, and Omer Asik was given a five-year deal as well.
The Pelicans signed Cunningham for less than $1 million last year and he said he wanted to come back if the money was right. Now he is back with the Pelicans, giving him $3 million a year.
The Pelicans seem keen on keeping all of their free agents. After re-signing Cunningham, Ajinca, and Asik, the Pelicans are looking at re-signing Norris Cole. Cole was a solid backup for the Pelicans and New Orleans seems keen on bringing the former Miami Heat man back.
The key move for New Orleans was re-signing Anthony Davis before next year, when he was supposed to be a free agent.
After trading their second-round pick (Brandon Dawson) to the Clippers on draft night and re-signing almost all of their free agents this offseason, expect the almost exact same team in New Orleans to be playing under new coach Alvin Gentry.
The Pelicans made the playoffs last year and can only improve. They have a superstar in the making in Anthony Davis and bringing back most of the team from last year means the Pelicans will be in the playoff hunt again this year.