Official NBA 2018-2019 Thread - the end of the regular season is near
Pelicans' lease expires in 2025, some people think that's a long way away, when that's only 6 years away.
We've lost two generational talents in 9 years.
If Gayle Benson wants to start getting some results as the rebuild begins, she's going to have to move Mickey Loomis away from the Pelicans and hire basketball specific executives.
Hire a basketball specific medical staff.. The Pelicans are still using doctors who misdiagnosed Devin Breaux's leg and Breaux is now in the CFL and probably has lost his NFL career because of that..
We've lost two generational talents in 9 years.
If Gayle Benson wants to start getting some results as the rebuild begins, she's going to have to move Mickey Loomis away from the Pelicans and hire basketball specific executives.
Hire a basketball specific medical staff.. The Pelicans are still using doctors who misdiagnosed Devin Breaux's leg and Breaux is now in the CFL and probably has lost his NFL career because of that..
Boston all day!!
To be on injury reserved in GS and injury reserved in NO are two different things, IMO.
Boogie came into a great situation, so I’m not sold on him bouncing back yet. His workload is light in GS.
^^^^
NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Pelicans released the following statement regarding Anthony Davis:
This past weekend, Anthony Davis’ representatives informed us that Anthony does not wish to sign a contract extension with our team and subsequently has requested a trade. Although we are disappointed in this decision, our organization’s top priority is to bring an NBA championship to our city and fans and build our team for long-term success.
Relative to specific talks of a trade, we will do this on our terms and our timeline. One that makes the most sense for our team and it will not be dictated by those outside of our organization. We have also requested the League to strictly enforce the tampering rules associated with this transaction.
Lakers already got fined and warned about messing with Paul George(which is the reason why I think is part of the reason he stayed) now the Pelicans bout to file against them.
The moment dude signed with Rich Paul, I knew he was gone, didn’t k ow where tho.
The moment dude signed with Rich Paul, I knew he was gone, didn’t k ow where tho.
Where do you get that from?
Slow down breh
He's played 3 games under light minutes
Let's be honest he isn't asked to do much on that team
Time will tell
I tend to think that the AD trade will determine the future of basketball in New Orleans
Trade him to the Lakers and the NBA, the media and basketball fans elsewhere are happy. In this case, I think as a reward for giving the NBA want they want, Gayle Benson is given an opportunity to sell the team for a decent price despite the loss in value with AD leaving. Basketball returns to Seattle and we can continue suing the NFL.
Trade him to the Celtics and basketball stays in New Orleans.
Trade him to the Lakers and the NBA, the media and basketball fans elsewhere are happy. In this case, I think as a reward for giving the NBA want they want, Gayle Benson is given an opportunity to sell the team for a decent price despite the loss in value with AD leaving. Basketball returns to Seattle and we can continue suing the NFL.
Trade him to the Celtics and basketball stays in New Orleans.
Anthony Davis crisis will test Pelicans' ownership
ON A SUNDAY afternoon at the Superdome in December 2014, Rita Benson LeBlanc, the granddaughter of New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson, reportedly accosted Benson's wife, Gayle.
Within six days, Tom Benson disinherited his daughter, Renee Benson, and her two children (including Rita) and made Gayle his primary heir. There's way more to this story, of course, and it was the subject of a long and bitter legal drama. But there's a lesson: Be careful when messing with Gayle Benson.
What happens next with Anthony Davis is a huge test for the 72-year-old Benson, who became the Pelicans' owner in March 2018, when her husband of 13 years passed away. She's the NBA's newest owner, one who doesn't have a history of decisions to show a definitive track record, and she presides over an unusual management structure that relies on football executives to oversee her basketball team.
Deciding whether to honor Davis' trade request, deciding when to honor it and deciding what type of trade package the Pelicans should seek are ownership-level decisions. It's as complicated and as stressful of a moment as a sports team owner can have in this day and age. It's a time when leadership and guidance are badly needed.
"She's still learning. I would guess it's going to be a challenge for her," one NBA owner said. "I would think Adam [Silver] would offer guidance if she wanted it."
It's somewhat transparent that Davis is interested in getting to the Los Angeles Lakers, which is why his trade demand is coming now, when other expected bidders are compromised. The Boston Celtics can't really get involved because of trade rules related to Kyrie Irving. The New York Knicks' potential best offer will be murky until their draft position is known in the spring.
Davis moving now has the markings of a leverage play, especially for a player with a season and a half left on his contract. It's a strong-arm tactic, though it's being made deftly. Davis has had a process with this move, meeting with teammates to inform them of his intentions personally and having his agent formally inform the team of his intentions and wishes.
But at the end of the day, it's part of a campaign to make Benson bend toward his wishes. The NBA is watching: Will she, or won't she?
Dell Demps has been the Pelicans' general manager since 2010, when the team was known as the Hornets and was owned by George Shinn. He has seen a lot in his tenure, including the failed Chris Paul trade with the Lakers in 2011. He can negotiate trades, but ultimately, he gets his marching orders from ownership, just as he did when the Paul trade was rejected by the acting Hornets owner, commissioner David Stern. That will be the case again with Davis.
Will the Pelicans be willing to do a deal with a conference rival and create a potential superteam? Will they want to center the deal on draft picks and potentially bottom out the team, accepting losing and possible attendance declines? Will they prefer more established players to more quickly retrofit the team instead of a full rebuild?
In some form or another, these issues will land in Benson's lap.
Those familiar with the Pelicans' inner workings say Benson relies heavily on the infrastructure her late husband put in place. The Pelicans have a board of directors that make the major decisions within the franchise. They share a president, vice president, chief operating officer, chief financial officer and general counsel with the Saints, which is how Tom Benson structured the operation.
Demps' direct boss within the Pelicans' management structure is Mickey Loomis, who is the highly respected and successful general manager of the Saints. Last week, as Davis was finalizing his decision to ask for a trade after seeing a hand specialist to determine the severity of a finger injury, Loomis was at the Senior Bowl in Alabama. When he spoke to the media, he addressed not Davis but the missed pass interference call in the NFC Championship Game. His is not a common position to be in.
Those who have worked with Loomis on basketball matters report that he gives the Pelicans' executives space to operate, but his experience in dealing with the challenges of pro sports shines through. He is not one to be intimidated or pushed around.
Teams who plan to negotiate with Demps and the Pelicans in the coming days have done their research on how to approach this situation. Some believe that Loomis will play a vital role in how the Pelicans manage the Davis crisis. But like Benson, Loomis has no demonstrable track record of dealing with such matters.
"We're going to invest more money and get the big players and do everything we can to keep Anthony [Davis] here," Benson said in an interview with The Athletic last month. "I really like Anthony, but if he wants to leave, you can't hold him back."
There's a lot of things left to interpretation there.
Last April, I attended the Pelicans' first playoff game in Portland, when they stunned the Blazers by 24 points on the way to a dominating first-round sweep. It was Davis' first playoff win, and he was emotional about it.
As the Pelicans players came back into the locker room, there was Benson, just a few weeks after her husband's passing, congratulating the team on the victory. Her intention, in part, was to demonstrate to the team that she was fully invested in the team and its success. It did send an impressive message.
The way she handles the Davis matter, though, might end up being a defining moment in her ownership tenure.
ON A SUNDAY afternoon at the Superdome in December 2014, Rita Benson LeBlanc, the granddaughter of New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson, reportedly accosted Benson's wife, Gayle.
Within six days, Tom Benson disinherited his daughter, Renee Benson, and her two children (including Rita) and made Gayle his primary heir. There's way more to this story, of course, and it was the subject of a long and bitter legal drama. But there's a lesson: Be careful when messing with Gayle Benson.
What happens next with Anthony Davis is a huge test for the 72-year-old Benson, who became the Pelicans' owner in March 2018, when her husband of 13 years passed away. She's the NBA's newest owner, one who doesn't have a history of decisions to show a definitive track record, and she presides over an unusual management structure that relies on football executives to oversee her basketball team.
Deciding whether to honor Davis' trade request, deciding when to honor it and deciding what type of trade package the Pelicans should seek are ownership-level decisions. It's as complicated and as stressful of a moment as a sports team owner can have in this day and age. It's a time when leadership and guidance are badly needed.
"She's still learning. I would guess it's going to be a challenge for her," one NBA owner said. "I would think Adam [Silver] would offer guidance if she wanted it."
It's somewhat transparent that Davis is interested in getting to the Los Angeles Lakers, which is why his trade demand is coming now, when other expected bidders are compromised. The Boston Celtics can't really get involved because of trade rules related to Kyrie Irving. The New York Knicks' potential best offer will be murky until their draft position is known in the spring.
Davis moving now has the markings of a leverage play, especially for a player with a season and a half left on his contract. It's a strong-arm tactic, though it's being made deftly. Davis has had a process with this move, meeting with teammates to inform them of his intentions personally and having his agent formally inform the team of his intentions and wishes.
But at the end of the day, it's part of a campaign to make Benson bend toward his wishes. The NBA is watching: Will she, or won't she?
Dell Demps has been the Pelicans' general manager since 2010, when the team was known as the Hornets and was owned by George Shinn. He has seen a lot in his tenure, including the failed Chris Paul trade with the Lakers in 2011. He can negotiate trades, but ultimately, he gets his marching orders from ownership, just as he did when the Paul trade was rejected by the acting Hornets owner, commissioner David Stern. That will be the case again with Davis.
Will the Pelicans be willing to do a deal with a conference rival and create a potential superteam? Will they want to center the deal on draft picks and potentially bottom out the team, accepting losing and possible attendance declines? Will they prefer more established players to more quickly retrofit the team instead of a full rebuild?
In some form or another, these issues will land in Benson's lap.
Those familiar with the Pelicans' inner workings say Benson relies heavily on the infrastructure her late husband put in place. The Pelicans have a board of directors that make the major decisions within the franchise. They share a president, vice president, chief operating officer, chief financial officer and general counsel with the Saints, which is how Tom Benson structured the operation.
Demps' direct boss within the Pelicans' management structure is Mickey Loomis, who is the highly respected and successful general manager of the Saints. Last week, as Davis was finalizing his decision to ask for a trade after seeing a hand specialist to determine the severity of a finger injury, Loomis was at the Senior Bowl in Alabama. When he spoke to the media, he addressed not Davis but the missed pass interference call in the NFC Championship Game. His is not a common position to be in.
Those who have worked with Loomis on basketball matters report that he gives the Pelicans' executives space to operate, but his experience in dealing with the challenges of pro sports shines through. He is not one to be intimidated or pushed around.
Teams who plan to negotiate with Demps and the Pelicans in the coming days have done their research on how to approach this situation. Some believe that Loomis will play a vital role in how the Pelicans manage the Davis crisis. But like Benson, Loomis has no demonstrable track record of dealing with such matters.
"We're going to invest more money and get the big players and do everything we can to keep Anthony [Davis] here," Benson said in an interview with The Athletic last month. "I really like Anthony, but if he wants to leave, you can't hold him back."
There's a lot of things left to interpretation there.
Last April, I attended the Pelicans' first playoff game in Portland, when they stunned the Blazers by 24 points on the way to a dominating first-round sweep. It was Davis' first playoff win, and he was emotional about it.
As the Pelicans players came back into the locker room, there was Benson, just a few weeks after her husband's passing, congratulating the team on the victory. Her intention, in part, was to demonstrate to the team that she was fully invested in the team and its success. It did send an impressive message.
The way she handles the Davis matter, though, might end up being a defining moment in her ownership tenure.
It’s not a “Crisis” and people are overthinking things. Pelicans were a 6th seed last year and they’re in 13th place in the West right now. Yes AD has missed some games.
With him, they’re not good. With him, they’re not winning a championship. It’s nothing against AD but one player isn’t winning a championship.
They’re best bet is to trade for some good hungry players and they can like Denver.
The "crisis" is not really on the floor, the crisis for Gayle Benson is doing a rebuild while trying keep interest and hope for the future with the fan base.
This is a fanbase that has spent the last 24 hours being fed the ESPN storyline machine, learning of Rich Paul's tactics and even having Lonzo Ball say he doesn't want to come here.
And that's in contrast to a football team that came one blown call (or bad clock management) from the Super Bowl.
The fanbase is collectively asking it self "Why do we even have basketball here?".. Nobody is really mad at AD to be honest, it seems much of the anger is directed at how the NBA is structured and how ESPN/Fox dick rides larger markets.
You know what, what you said makes sense.
true true....
Young brother salvaged his career. Even saw him playing defense last nite. Props to him.
It's crazy how he and D'Angelo are thriving now and people are shitting on KAT and calling him a pussy. I'm glad he's getting a 2nd chance. I like old school centers
Rockets pissed me off playing down to their competition. How the fuck you beat the Raptors a few nights ago minus CP3 & lose to a depleted NO team.
But this is a blessing in disguise for Okafor, he was too skilled coming out of Duke not to be getting quality minutes in the league.
One thing that might be a serious blessing in disguise is that AD/Klutch Sport is pointing out that the Pelicans are treated less favorably than the Saints and it should light a fire under them to do something. You have already have disadvantage of being in a small market, no need to give yourself another disadvantage.
Pelicans Have 'No Interest' In Dealing Anthony Davis To Lakers
JAN 31, 2019 1:58 AM
The New Orleans Pelicans reportedly have "no interest in acquiescing Anthony Davis to the Lakers right now," according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Pelicans are said to be in no rush to move Davis before the trade deadline, with general manager Dell Demps avoiding trade offers.
Alvin Gentry stated that he did not know whether Davis would play for the team in the future.
Pelicans GM Dell Demps hasn't returned call from Lakers GM about Anthony Davis
As the NBA trade deadline looms within a week, the Lakers' immediate pursuit of All-Star forward Anthony Davis is fraught with obstacles -- including the fact that New Orleans Pelicans general manager Dell Demps has yet to return a call from Lakers GM Rob Pelinka, league sources told ESPN.
The sluggish response time is perhaps a message that New Orleans places some responsibility on the Lakers for Davis' trade request. Or perhaps it is an indication to Davis and his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, that the Pelicans don't plan to easily acquiesce on a trade request to partner Davis with LeBron James.
As of now, the Pelicans see no reason to deliver Davis to the Lakers in a deal with a full season left on his contract -- never mind do it on a timeline that benefits mostly the objectives of Los Angeles and Davis.
New Orleans officials are prepared to play the long game on Davis' future, embarking on an uncomfortable, if not combative process that could extend months beyond next Thursday's trade deadline.
Pelicans drop AD from team shot on hype video
In New Orleans' first home game since Pelicans star Anthony Davis requested a trade, he was removed from an image that included the rest of the roster at the end of the pregame hype video.
If Davis wants to be a Laker, the Pelicans' mantra so far is simply: Feel free to join L.A. as a free agent in 2020 and potentially punt on the 2019-20 season -- when James will turn 35 -- to keep the requisite cap space open.
For now, Demps is following the San Antonio Spurs' initial playbook with Kawhi Leonardfrom a year ago: Accept calls and listen to deal concepts and offers.
Demps is picking up his phone and returning calls -- just not from the Lakers, sources said. From Paul George to Leonard to Davis, the Lakers' front office is growing accustomed to icy receptions from teams enduring All-Star trade demands with a full year left on their contracts.
When Spurs GM R.C. Buford finally called back Pelinka after Leonard's springtime trade request, the Lakers were left with an unmistakable impression: Buford and Gregg Popovich would never send Leonard to Los Angeles -- no matter what the Lakers offered. The Spurs always denied any absolute "no Lakers" stance, arguing the L.A. package never captivated them.
After Paul privately told Demps on Friday that his client wouldn't sign a contract extension with the Pelicans and wanted a trade, Paul publicly declared it on Monday -- with full knowledge that he'd have to pay a $50,000 fine on behalf of his client.
Teams interested in trading for Davis -- including the Boston Celtics -- are in full fact-finding mode and the intel coming back is this, sources tell ESPN: Davis' plan is to treat any trade destination as a one-year stop -- except, of course, the Lakers. Teams are learning that Davis' stated intention will be to play the season elsewhere if traded outside of the Lakers, but move to the Lakers as a free agent in 2020.
With Boston prohibited from trading for Davis this season, going to the Lakers presents Davis a chance to make something of this 2018-19 season. The Celtics and other suitors are curious as to whether the potential Lakers-or-bust stance softens once the deadline passes, sources said.
The stance of Davis and his camp toward Boston is linked to their view of Kyrie Irving's future, sources said. Davis and his camp no longer believe that Irving is a sure bet to re-sign with the Celtics this summer, and that's the primary reason they insist on clumping Boston with a similar message to the 28 other teams: Buyer beware on a trade for Davis.
Paul also represents James. Davis hired Paul and Klutch Sports, so Davis clearly has signed off on this Lakers endgame strategy -- no matter if some in the NBA chose to be skeptical.
Watch on ESPN+
Boston is remaining outwardly fearless in its pursuit of Davis, with word delivered to New Orleans: Hold on to Davis past the trade deadline, get into the offseason and we're armed to give you the best possible return on this generational talent.
Boston remains confident in Irving re-signing, even if the Celtics don't acquire Davis before free agency. But whatever happens between now and then, whatever issues might threaten to topple Irving's preseason commitment to an extension, the Celtics believe the acquisition of Davis will soothe them all. Boston believes this: Getting Davis probably clinches an Irving commitment.
For now, the Celtics are unconvinced that Davis would be willing to walk out on a championship core with Boston for the Lakers. Boston has done a tremendous amount of research on Davis, especially intense in the past 18 months, league sources said.
The Pelicans are aware the Celtics are preparing a massive offer for Davis if he remains on the New Orleans roster past the trade deadline. The Celtics cannot acquire him now unless they trade Irving, due to an obscure rule that prohibits any team from trading for a second player working under a designated rookie maximum extension. Irving and Davis are both playing under such deals now. Irving can -- and almost certainly will -- opt out of his contract on July 1.
The most pressing question for the Celtics is whether they could acquire Davis without including Jayson Tatum in the deal. If the Celtics get the chance, Boston will be able to offer any or all of the following: Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, Marcus Smart, Terry Rozier (though Rozier would have to agree to a sign-and-trade, raising thorny cap complications), its own first-round picks, Sacramento's first-round pick, a Memphis future first-round pick (top-eight protected this season, top-six protected in 2020, and unprotected in 2021) and a lottery-protected LA Clippers first-rounder that converts to a 2022 second-round pick if the Clippers miss the playoffs both this season and next.
Above all else, Boston wants to keep Tatum. Going forward with a Big Three of Irving, Davis and Tatum -- and filling in the gaps around them as needed -- is probably the ideal scenario. If the Celtics feel it is necessary to hold off any Lakers coup, they can tell the Pelicans they will likely include Tatum in Davis trade talks in July.
That's risky, though. If Boston promises that in absolute terms, the Pelicans would expect the Celtics to hold to that assurance. Reneging would damage Boston's leaguewide credibility in a way that could take years to repair.
To sign Davis outright in 2020, the Lakers would have to maintain enough cap space for him -- which could mean forfeiting the chance to add a star player this summer. The Lakers could sign that star free agent, and then sign-and-trade their young guys for Davis in the summer of 2020. Whatever the case, it's a complicated path to Davis.
What's more, to deal all of their young assets for Davis now would complicate the Lakers' path to a third star. With only Davis, LeBron and Luol Deng's stretched salary on their books for 2019-20, the Lakers would have only about $30.5 million in cap space -- not enough for a max free agent. They would either have to hope a star takes less than the max, or roll their space over to the summer of 2020 -- when the cap will go up again.
Demps hasn't yet returned Pelinka's call, but likely will several days prior to Thursday's trade deadline. Pelinka can offer an a la carte of the Lakers' young prospects and future draft picks, or offer to use those players and picks to canvass the league to furnish players for Demps that he might prefer in a multiteam trade.
The Pelicans believe the Lakers will offer the same deal in June and July as they can offer now, which is one more reason to wait on the Celtics.
Starting last Friday -- when Davis made his request to the Pelicans -- several teams told ESPN that Demps had made forwards Nikola Miroticand Julius Randle and guard E'Twaun Moore available in trade talks. The Pelicans are continuing to explore the market value of those players, sources said.
One direction those talks could take: trading those players to recover draft picks as part of a more complete post-Davis rebuild.
New Orleans is 13th in the West, 5.5 games out of the playoffs with 30 games remaining.
The unfolding of the Davis situation has delivered a light on the Pelicans' unusual front office structure, in particular the power of executives from the NFL's New Orleans Saints -- including Mickey Loomis, the Pelicans' executive vice president of basketball operations and Demps' nominal boss. The Pelicans' environment is steeped in the NFL's top-down power culture, which contributes to a level of defiance in catering to a player trade request like Davis'.
Demps and his basketball operations staff handle trade discussions, but Loomis -- the Saints' top football executive -- will have a significant voice in how the Pelicans proceed with the Davis saga. Interestingly, Loomis and Celtics GM Danny Ainge have no personal relationship, but they do have a history growing up in Eugene, Oregon.
Besides being a future NBA guard and major league third baseman, Ainge was a star receiver and quarterback with Pac-8 football offers. Loomis is younger and was a football star himself, and has long been acquainted with the athletic lore of Ainge.
Ainge has a history as an ace negotiator, but the Pelicans' future rests on a robust return for Davis. They are desperate to extract maximum value. New Orleans can offer Davis a five-year, $239 million extension in July and offer that deal again in 2020.
Around the Pelicans, some wonder whether Davis getting booed and becoming a villain in New Orleans could make him second-guess his decision on a public trade request, but that's probably wishful thinking.
As long as ominous back-channel warnings don't give Ainge pause, the Celtics believe they could convince Davis to stay long-term, clinching Irving's future in New England.
Still, there are scenarios that concern Boston. For instance, the Celtics could disappoint in the postseason. The Knicks could win the draft lottery and enter the offseason with the one trade asset that tops Tatum: the NBA draft's No. 1 pick, and the chance to select Duke's Zion Williamson.
If that isn't enough, the Knicks could add Kevin Knox to their offer and hope that acquiring Davis would entice a second star free agent to join him. Irving would be on their short list of such players, and the Knicks, armed with Davis and enough cap room for Irving, stand as one the only Irving threats that would unnerve Boston.
One subplot: Under revised draft lottery rules, the teams with the three worst records will have an equal chance -- 14 percent apiece -- at securing the No. 1 pick. Four teams -- the Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers -- are in a heated "race" for those three spots. One will be left out and enter the lottery with a 12.5 percent chance at leaping to No. 1. Every percentage point matters.
For now, the lack of certainty surrounding the Knicks' pick is a huge obstacle to New York dealing now for Davis. On the flip side, New York will be unlikely to include Kristaps Porzingis in any Davis trade package once the deadline passes. Porzingis will be a restricted free agent this summer and would have to agree to a sign-and-trade -- something he'd be reluctant to do, league sources said. In other words: The Knicks may never be able to offer Williamson and Porzingis together.
For now, the Pelicans and Davis are left with an awkward dance. Davis does plan to play for the Pelicans again before trade deadline in a week, league sources said. Davis wants to play in the All-Star Game in mid-February, and he'll almost assuredly be selected as a reserve on Thursday. Teammates and coaches can already tell that Davis is trying to measure for himself how much of a teammate he should try to still be versus simply detaching himself.
As the public spectacle ensued this week, Davis took his Pelicans teammates out to dinner on a trip to Houston. His nature is to please, and the push to get out of New Orleans does stand in contrast to his typical sensibilities. He always has been nonconfrontational, eager to fit into the program. Now, Davis is chasing what he believes will be a better organization in a bigger market.
Eventually, Demps is expected to return that call to Pelinka, but there remains no clear and immediate pathway to a trade. This could be long, nasty process. Paul is unfazed to make it a brawl, and Ainge is unafraid to make the trade. And, it appears, New Orleans is unafraid to make everyone wait.
This is the new NBA, a superstar's fight for flight. Only the league's balance of power appears to rest on the results of it all.
As the NBA trade deadline looms within a week, the Lakers' immediate pursuit of All-Star forward Anthony Davis is fraught with obstacles -- including the fact that New Orleans Pelicans general manager Dell Demps has yet to return a call from Lakers GM Rob Pelinka, league sources told ESPN.
The sluggish response time is perhaps a message that New Orleans places some responsibility on the Lakers for Davis' trade request. Or perhaps it is an indication to Davis and his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, that the Pelicans don't plan to easily acquiesce on a trade request to partner Davis with LeBron James.
As of now, the Pelicans see no reason to deliver Davis to the Lakers in a deal with a full season left on his contract -- never mind do it on a timeline that benefits mostly the objectives of Los Angeles and Davis.
New Orleans officials are prepared to play the long game on Davis' future, embarking on an uncomfortable, if not combative process that could extend months beyond next Thursday's trade deadline.
Pelicans drop AD from team shot on hype video
In New Orleans' first home game since Pelicans star Anthony Davis requested a trade, he was removed from an image that included the rest of the roster at the end of the pregame hype video.
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What top Anthony Davis trade contenders can actually offer
Here's what each team can really put on the table in trade talks.
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The other side to the Anthony Davis trade drama
As rumors and reports swirl about Anthony Davis' next move, New Orleans is already preparing for life without its superstar.
If Davis wants to be a Laker, the Pelicans' mantra so far is simply: Feel free to join L.A. as a free agent in 2020 and potentially punt on the 2019-20 season -- when James will turn 35 -- to keep the requisite cap space open.
For now, Demps is following the San Antonio Spurs' initial playbook with Kawhi Leonardfrom a year ago: Accept calls and listen to deal concepts and offers.
Demps is picking up his phone and returning calls -- just not from the Lakers, sources said. From Paul George to Leonard to Davis, the Lakers' front office is growing accustomed to icy receptions from teams enduring All-Star trade demands with a full year left on their contracts.
When Spurs GM R.C. Buford finally called back Pelinka after Leonard's springtime trade request, the Lakers were left with an unmistakable impression: Buford and Gregg Popovich would never send Leonard to Los Angeles -- no matter what the Lakers offered. The Spurs always denied any absolute "no Lakers" stance, arguing the L.A. package never captivated them.
After Paul privately told Demps on Friday that his client wouldn't sign a contract extension with the Pelicans and wanted a trade, Paul publicly declared it on Monday -- with full knowledge that he'd have to pay a $50,000 fine on behalf of his client.
Teams interested in trading for Davis -- including the Boston Celtics -- are in full fact-finding mode and the intel coming back is this, sources tell ESPN: Davis' plan is to treat any trade destination as a one-year stop -- except, of course, the Lakers. Teams are learning that Davis' stated intention will be to play the season elsewhere if traded outside of the Lakers, but move to the Lakers as a free agent in 2020.
With Boston prohibited from trading for Davis this season, going to the Lakers presents Davis a chance to make something of this 2018-19 season. The Celtics and other suitors are curious as to whether the potential Lakers-or-bust stance softens once the deadline passes, sources said.
The stance of Davis and his camp toward Boston is linked to their view of Kyrie Irving's future, sources said. Davis and his camp no longer believe that Irving is a sure bet to re-sign with the Celtics this summer, and that's the primary reason they insist on clumping Boston with a similar message to the 28 other teams: Buyer beware on a trade for Davis.
Paul also represents James. Davis hired Paul and Klutch Sports, so Davis clearly has signed off on this Lakers endgame strategy -- no matter if some in the NBA chose to be skeptical.
Watch on ESPN+
Boston is remaining outwardly fearless in its pursuit of Davis, with word delivered to New Orleans: Hold on to Davis past the trade deadline, get into the offseason and we're armed to give you the best possible return on this generational talent.
Boston remains confident in Irving re-signing, even if the Celtics don't acquire Davis before free agency. But whatever happens between now and then, whatever issues might threaten to topple Irving's preseason commitment to an extension, the Celtics believe the acquisition of Davis will soothe them all. Boston believes this: Getting Davis probably clinches an Irving commitment.
For now, the Celtics are unconvinced that Davis would be willing to walk out on a championship core with Boston for the Lakers. Boston has done a tremendous amount of research on Davis, especially intense in the past 18 months, league sources said.
The Pelicans are aware the Celtics are preparing a massive offer for Davis if he remains on the New Orleans roster past the trade deadline. The Celtics cannot acquire him now unless they trade Irving, due to an obscure rule that prohibits any team from trading for a second player working under a designated rookie maximum extension. Irving and Davis are both playing under such deals now. Irving can -- and almost certainly will -- opt out of his contract on July 1.
The most pressing question for the Celtics is whether they could acquire Davis without including Jayson Tatum in the deal. If the Celtics get the chance, Boston will be able to offer any or all of the following: Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, Marcus Smart, Terry Rozier (though Rozier would have to agree to a sign-and-trade, raising thorny cap complications), its own first-round picks, Sacramento's first-round pick, a Memphis future first-round pick (top-eight protected this season, top-six protected in 2020, and unprotected in 2021) and a lottery-protected LA Clippers first-rounder that converts to a 2022 second-round pick if the Clippers miss the playoffs both this season and next.
Above all else, Boston wants to keep Tatum. Going forward with a Big Three of Irving, Davis and Tatum -- and filling in the gaps around them as needed -- is probably the ideal scenario. If the Celtics feel it is necessary to hold off any Lakers coup, they can tell the Pelicans they will likely include Tatum in Davis trade talks in July.
That's risky, though. If Boston promises that in absolute terms, the Pelicans would expect the Celtics to hold to that assurance. Reneging would damage Boston's leaguewide credibility in a way that could take years to repair.
To sign Davis outright in 2020, the Lakers would have to maintain enough cap space for him -- which could mean forfeiting the chance to add a star player this summer. The Lakers could sign that star free agent, and then sign-and-trade their young guys for Davis in the summer of 2020. Whatever the case, it's a complicated path to Davis.
What's more, to deal all of their young assets for Davis now would complicate the Lakers' path to a third star. With only Davis, LeBron and Luol Deng's stretched salary on their books for 2019-20, the Lakers would have only about $30.5 million in cap space -- not enough for a max free agent. They would either have to hope a star takes less than the max, or roll their space over to the summer of 2020 -- when the cap will go up again.
Demps hasn't yet returned Pelinka's call, but likely will several days prior to Thursday's trade deadline. Pelinka can offer an a la carte of the Lakers' young prospects and future draft picks, or offer to use those players and picks to canvass the league to furnish players for Demps that he might prefer in a multiteam trade.
The Pelicans believe the Lakers will offer the same deal in June and July as they can offer now, which is one more reason to wait on the Celtics.
Starting last Friday -- when Davis made his request to the Pelicans -- several teams told ESPN that Demps had made forwards Nikola Miroticand Julius Randle and guard E'Twaun Moore available in trade talks. The Pelicans are continuing to explore the market value of those players, sources said.
One direction those talks could take: trading those players to recover draft picks as part of a more complete post-Davis rebuild.
New Orleans is 13th in the West, 5.5 games out of the playoffs with 30 games remaining.
The unfolding of the Davis situation has delivered a light on the Pelicans' unusual front office structure, in particular the power of executives from the NFL's New Orleans Saints -- including Mickey Loomis, the Pelicans' executive vice president of basketball operations and Demps' nominal boss. The Pelicans' environment is steeped in the NFL's top-down power culture, which contributes to a level of defiance in catering to a player trade request like Davis'.
Demps and his basketball operations staff handle trade discussions, but Loomis -- the Saints' top football executive -- will have a significant voice in how the Pelicans proceed with the Davis saga. Interestingly, Loomis and Celtics GM Danny Ainge have no personal relationship, but they do have a history growing up in Eugene, Oregon.
Besides being a future NBA guard and major league third baseman, Ainge was a star receiver and quarterback with Pac-8 football offers. Loomis is younger and was a football star himself, and has long been acquainted with the athletic lore of Ainge.
Ainge has a history as an ace negotiator, but the Pelicans' future rests on a robust return for Davis. They are desperate to extract maximum value. New Orleans can offer Davis a five-year, $239 million extension in July and offer that deal again in 2020.
Around the Pelicans, some wonder whether Davis getting booed and becoming a villain in New Orleans could make him second-guess his decision on a public trade request, but that's probably wishful thinking.
As long as ominous back-channel warnings don't give Ainge pause, the Celtics believe they could convince Davis to stay long-term, clinching Irving's future in New England.
Still, there are scenarios that concern Boston. For instance, the Celtics could disappoint in the postseason. The Knicks could win the draft lottery and enter the offseason with the one trade asset that tops Tatum: the NBA draft's No. 1 pick, and the chance to select Duke's Zion Williamson.
If that isn't enough, the Knicks could add Kevin Knox to their offer and hope that acquiring Davis would entice a second star free agent to join him. Irving would be on their short list of such players, and the Knicks, armed with Davis and enough cap room for Irving, stand as one the only Irving threats that would unnerve Boston.
One subplot: Under revised draft lottery rules, the teams with the three worst records will have an equal chance -- 14 percent apiece -- at securing the No. 1 pick. Four teams -- the Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers -- are in a heated "race" for those three spots. One will be left out and enter the lottery with a 12.5 percent chance at leaping to No. 1. Every percentage point matters.
For now, the lack of certainty surrounding the Knicks' pick is a huge obstacle to New York dealing now for Davis. On the flip side, New York will be unlikely to include Kristaps Porzingis in any Davis trade package once the deadline passes. Porzingis will be a restricted free agent this summer and would have to agree to a sign-and-trade -- something he'd be reluctant to do, league sources said. In other words: The Knicks may never be able to offer Williamson and Porzingis together.
For now, the Pelicans and Davis are left with an awkward dance. Davis does plan to play for the Pelicans again before trade deadline in a week, league sources said. Davis wants to play in the All-Star Game in mid-February, and he'll almost assuredly be selected as a reserve on Thursday. Teammates and coaches can already tell that Davis is trying to measure for himself how much of a teammate he should try to still be versus simply detaching himself.
As the public spectacle ensued this week, Davis took his Pelicans teammates out to dinner on a trip to Houston. His nature is to please, and the push to get out of New Orleans does stand in contrast to his typical sensibilities. He always has been nonconfrontational, eager to fit into the program. Now, Davis is chasing what he believes will be a better organization in a bigger market.
Eventually, Demps is expected to return that call to Pelinka, but there remains no clear and immediate pathway to a trade. This could be long, nasty process. Paul is unfazed to make it a brawl, and Ainge is unafraid to make the trade. And, it appears, New Orleans is unafraid to make everyone wait.
This is the new NBA, a superstar's fight for flight. Only the league's balance of power appears to rest on the results of it all.
Pelicans Have 'No Interest' In Dealing Anthony Davis To Lakers
JAN 31, 2019 1:58 AM
The New Orleans Pelicans reportedly have "no interest in acquiescing Anthony Davis to the Lakers right now," according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Pelicans are said to be in no rush to move Davis before the trade deadline, with general manager Dell Demps avoiding trade offers.
Alvin Gentry stated that he did not know whether Davis would play for the team in the future.
He's obviously done here.
He's gone from the intro video.. Jrue Holiday's pic is on everything in social media and even the Fox Sports New Orleans promos for upcoming games say "Jrue Holiday and the Pelicans take on so and so"
I suspect that it's either a wait and see for Boston
Or Dell Demps could be getting fired and he's being told to do nothing.
I think Demps is being told not to trade him to the Lakers unless they offer everything and their kids....I also think that since they have a NFL guy basically running the team, then they could care less what Davis wants. I think if he gets traded before the deadline, it will be to some team the media hasnt mentioned yet; otherwise I see him get traded to the Celtics in the offseason.....
Good point about Mickey Loomis, when AD asked for a trade (before making it public) Loomis was at the Senior Bowl when he got the news, obviously getting the Saints back to the NFC Championship game is his priority over a basketball rebuilding job.
Personally I do think it's smarter to wait, although I would send AD home and just run with these young kids to see what you have going into the summer.
I agree totally. Although i don't see them sitting AD for the rest of the season. I don't think AD would want to sit out either. I also get the sense that a lot of these "small city" owners are starting too say fuck these big owners. With what GS did and how basically the major markets dominate the league and media; it starting to look like they saying fuck you'll. ..
Unicorn out of NY