After a summer-long standoff with management, Norris Cole, (I assume begrudgingly), accepted a one year qualifying offer to forgo restricted free agency in hopes of striking a more lucrative contract during the 2016 free agency bonanza. With Jrue Holiday on a minutes limit, bringing Cole (and his clean flat top) back with something to prove was not the worst move from an insurance standpoint. Ironically, Cole played in less games than Holiday and his status with the Pelicans going forward can be characterized as doubtful at best.
For all of his warts, Cole can be a useful player on a good team.