I'm not saying it will happen this summer (it likely won't), but if the Pelicans continue struggling even with Cousins on board, they might ultimately decide to trade Anthony Davis for a treasure chest of assets and start another rebuild sometime NEXT season/year (either 2018 Trade Deadline or 2018 Summer).
It's been a somewhat small sample size, I know, but the Pelicans have actually been worse with the addition of Cousins, and besides AD-Cousins-Holiday, there isn't too much great about the rest of the roster.
Unless they add someone like Chris Paul this summer, it might be the same scenario going forward and unless AD-Cousins can start winning a ton of games, it could complicate things. Cousins also becomes a FA in 2018 and trading him wouldn't get you too much value considering he would be an expiring at that point. So they have to hope it works out soon and they are stuck with Cousins until his contract ends (barring a contract extension).
Basically, if the Pelicans can't improve the rest of the season and the first half of next season, AND they can't find much help/improvement this summer, then hey, maybe we shouldn't entirely kick the tires on a potential Anthony Davis deal.
It's unlikely I know and I'm not saying Ainge should bet on this happening (keep going the same route with BKN Picks, max FA this summer, etc.), but it's something to monitor.