Fansided

NBA Season Preview 2018-19: 20 things to watch this NBA season

By Bryan Toporek

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: (L-R) Jimmy Butler #23, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Taj Gibson #67 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves head back to the bench for a timeout during overtime of the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: (L-R) Jimmy Butler #23, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Taj Gibson #67 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves head back to the bench for a timeout during overtime of the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 13: Julius Randle #30 of the New Orleans Pelicans poses for a portrait on July 13, 2018 at the the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 13: Julius Randle #30 of the New Orleans Pelicans poses for a portrait on July 13, 2018 at the the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

13. The Big Easy Bash Brothers

Because nothing good in this world ever lasts, the pairing of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins spanned less than a season-and-a-half. When Boogie went down with a torn Achilles in January, it effectively spelled the end of his tenure with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Rather than re-sign Cousins this summer, the Pelicans took advantage of the Los Angeles Lakers’ decision to renounce their rights to Julius Randle. New Orleans swooped in and signed him to a two-year, $17.7 million deal, giving itself a frontcourt pairing of versatile top-10 picks from Kentucky.

Whereas Randle logged a majority of his minutes at power forward during his first few seasons in the NBA, he split time nearly evenly between the 4 and the 5 in L.A. last year. Both he and Davis can thus switch positions interchangeably when they share the court this season, which should make them a nightmare for opposing frontcourts.

“Julius has a lot of respect for A.D., and A.D. has a lot of respect for Julius. Both of them are really unselfish guys,” Kentucky assistant coach Kenny Payne, who worked with both Davis and Randle in college, told William Guillory of The Athletic. “They are going to torture other big men around the league. I know I can’t wait to see them play together.”

Between Davis, Randle and Nikola Mirotic, the Pelicans figure to have one of the NBA’s most versatile frontcourts. Mirotic’s ability to stretch the floor helped Davis piece together an MVP-caliber second half of the season following Cousins’ injury, but the pairing of Randle and the Brow may be even more fascinating to monitor.