Coach Gentry says Pelicans need Cousins next season

WASHINGTON, May 22 (Xinhua) -- New Orleans Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said on Tuesday he hopes that his All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins can come back in a Pelicans uniform next season.

"There's not anyone that does not want him back with our franchise. The bottom line is that obviously we'd like to have him back on our team. Anyone that thinks you're better having a guy that averaged 25 points and 13 rebounds not on your team, is really kind of not in tune to what it takes to win in this league," Gentry said.

The center is recovering from a torn Achilles' tendon he suffered in January, and will become a free agent in July. Earlier report said that the club might give up on him as the team's salary cap is in a challenging position next season.

"There's just so many factors that enter into it, but there's not one single person, player, coach, or in the basketball operations department or ownership that doesn't want him back," the coach added.

Despite losing Cousins, the Pelicans clinched the sixth seed in the NBA playoffs and swept the Portland Trail Blazers in the opening round before losing to the defending champion Golden State Warriors in five games in the second round. Enditem