NBA Rumors: New Orleans Pelicans not expected to chase a max free agent

Dec 30, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans point guard Tyreke Evans (1) celebrates with teammate point guard Jrue Holiday (11) after hitting a shot to take the lead with 1.2 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the New Orleans Arena. The Pelicans defeated the Trail Blazers 110-108. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Last year, the New Orleans Pelicans were one of, if not the, most aggressive team in the offseason last year.

They traded the rights to their first round draft pick, Kentucky Wildcats’ center Nerlens Noel, to the Philadelphia 76ers for point guard Jrue Holiday, then signed guard Tyreke Evans away from the Sacramento Kings.

According to Pelicans’ General Manager Dell Demps, that won’t be the case this year.

”Last year was our opportunity to go on the free-agent market,’’ Demps told John Reid of The New Orleans Times-Picayune. “We’re very far under the luxury tax and we’ll still have opportunities to use money to add players to our group. But we’re currently not going to be a cap team; we’re not going to be able to go get a max free agent.And so our plan is to continuously add pieces to our group to make our team the best possible team we can be.’’

The Pelicans are likely trying to save money to sign Anthony Davis to a max deal when he becomes a free agent.

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