Pelicans Set High Asking Price for Anthony Davis

The New Orleans Pelicans have set forth their desires for a trade for six-time All-Star Anthony Davis. Pelicans’ executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin is looking to acquire a current All-Star, a future one and two first-round picks in exchange for Davis, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Griffin told teams he prefers to make the trade before the NBA Draft on June 20. To this point, the teams who have inquired about Davis (since the end of the regular season) include the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers.

Davis wants out of New Orleans after spending the first seven seasons of his career with the franchise (Seth Wenig/AP)

The only team, however, that could deliver a trade package to fit the Pelicans’ massive asking price is the Boston Celtics. They could offer Gordon Hayward or Al Horford (assuming he opts into the final year of his contract), Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum and two of the three first-round selections they own for the upcoming draft in a potential deal. Problem is, the Celtics will be hesitant to give away all these assets for Davis—an unrestricted free agent after next season—unless they can agree on a long-term extension with All-Star Guard Kyrie Irving, who could leave Boston in free agency.

Given the unlikelihood that one team can fulfill the Pelicans’ needs, Griffin has made it known he is open to multi-team trade scenarios that could redirect assets for players or draft selections, according to Wojnarowski.

The Pelicans plan to build around a nucleus of Jrue Holiday, Zion Williamson (who they plan on selecting with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft) and the assets they acquire in the Davis trade.

Elfrid Payton Records Fifth Consecutive Triple-Double as Pelicans Beat Mavs

Elfrid Payton recorded his fifth consecutive triple-double as the visiting New Orleans Pelicans beat the Dallas Mavericks in overtime on Monday night.

The Pelicans managed to snap a six-game losing streak on a night where Dirk Nowitzki passed Wilt Chamberlain for sixth place on the NBA's career scoring list and Mavs rookie Luka Doncic turned in a triple-double of his own with 29 points, 13 rebounds and 10 dimes.

Pelicans forward Julius Randle scored a game-high 30 points in the victory.

Payton logged 19 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in the 129-125 win. He is the fifth player in NBA history to post five straight triple-doubles. Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook have also accomplished this feat.

Elfrid Payton has become just the 5th player in NBA history to record a triple-double in 5 consecutive games.

Russell Westbrook set the NBA record earlier this season with an 11-game streak.

h/t @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/jdLyMuQ2Kj

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 19, 2019

Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry praised Payton for his recent stretch of dominance.

"To be a point guard and be able to come up with double-digit rebounds night after night after night, that is really tough to do," Gentry said. "Any time they mention you in the same breath as Westbrook, you have to feel really good about it. If they mention you in the same breath as Oscar Robertson, that is another whole area."

Payton will look to register his sixth consecutive triple-double on Wednesday night in a road tilt against the Orlando Magic. The 25-year-old Payton spent the first 3.5 seasons of his career with the Magic before it traded him to the Phoenix Suns at the 2018 NBA trade deadline. He played just 19 games for the Suns, before signing with the Pelicans in free agency this summer.

Report: 'No Way' Pelicans Trade Davis to Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers failed to acquire six-time All-Star Anthony Davis at the trade deadline. The New Orleans Pelicans were not pleased with how the Lakers handled trade negotiations back in late-January/February for Davis, who publicly stated he wanted to be dealt.

A new report suggests that the Pelicans won’t even consider trading Davis to the Lakers this offseason.

"I have been told that there's no way Anthony Davis is coming here [to the Lakers], through the Pelicans," Marc J. Spears said while appearing on ESPN's The Jump. "They're just not going to do it."

ESPN’s Michael Wilbon claimed he also heard that Davis-to-LAL is a no-go come this summer.

Trade talks turned contentious before the NBA's trade deadline when Davis' agent, Rich Paul, made it public knowledge the big man did not want to play for the Pelicans in the long-term. Paul also represents Lakers superstar LeBron James, who stated his desire to play with Davis.

The Lakers reportedly leaked details of the offers they presented to New Orleans for Davis, incensing the Pelicans’ front office.

LeBron may not get his wish to play with Anthony Davis next season. (Joe C. Hong/AP)

Another major hurdle for the Lakers is that two of their biggest trade chips—Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball—have been ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Ingram is dealing with blood clots, having been diagnosed with Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) in his right shoulder. This could be a serious detriment to the remainder of his career, and as a result, has lowered his trade value. Ingram finished this season averaging 18.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, while shooting 49.7 percent from the floor, 33.0 percent from beyond the arc and 67.5 percent from the free-throw line.

Ball has not played since mid-January after suffering a Grade 3 ankle sprain. He averaged 9.9 points and 5.4 assists per game this season and shot 40.6% from the field and 32.9% from three. Ball has played in just 99 out of a possible 164 games in his two-year NBA career.

The Pelicans will have plenty of suitors for Davis this summer. The Boston Celtics will be the favorites to land Davis, so long as they agree to deal rising star Jayson Tatum to New Orleans. The Lakers could get back in the mix for Davis, but their chances of trading for the forward/center have decreased significantly in recent months.

Pelicans Lose Davis to Injury, Beat Thunder

Anthony Davis left Thursday night’s home contest versus the Oklahoma City Thunder with a left shoulder injury, but the New Orleans Pelicans managed to secure an upset win.

Without Davis, forward Julius Randle and guard Jrue Holiday led the way. Randle finished with 33 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, while Holiday had 32 points, five rebounds and seven assists in the 131-122 victory. Holiday defended Thunder All-Star forward Paul George and held him to 11-of-29 shooting—including 3-of-17 from three-point territory. George scored 28 points with seven rebounds, six assists, one blocked shot and one steal.

Davis exited the Smoothie King Center with his agent, Rich Paul, in the second half. MRI results revealed the All-Star suffered a muscle contusion but "nothing too bad," according to ESPN. Davis will get treatment on the shoulder over the next few days. He will see how he feels before deciding whether he can play in Sunday’s All-Star Game in Charlotte.

Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry had no interest in discussing Davis—who publicly requested a trade but was ultimately not dealt before the NBA’s trade deadline—and shifted his focus on his players who carried the team to a victory.

"I'm gonna talk about the guys that play," Gentry said. "They did a great job. We found a way to win the game. That's what's important."

Gentry lauded his players for stepping up and winning a game against one of the best teams in the Western Conference, in spite of all the drama surrounding his squad.

"I'm happy for all of them," Gentry said. "Because to tell you the truth, this whole thing has been a dumpster fire. We want guys to be professional and we want them to do this, but it's hard for guys to go through what they've been through. And to be able to come out and beat a team of that quality, I'm happy for all the guys. I just thought they did a great job."

Thunder guard Russell Westbrook accomplished two incredible feats in the defeat. He increased his triple-double streak to 11 games—an NBA record—by scoring 44 points, grabbing 14 rebounds and dishing out 11 assists. Despite the loss, Oklahoma City is 9-2 during Westbrook’s streak. In addition to increasing his triple-double streak, Westbrook became the all-time leading scorer in Sonics/Thunder franchise history. He surpassed Gary Payton (18,207 points) and now has accumulated 18,247 points in his storied career.

Pelicans Interested in Terrence Ross

The NBA's trade deadline (Feb. 7) is fast approaching and playoff contenders, such as the New Orleans Pelicans, are looking to add talent for a potential postseason run before it's too late. The Pelicans are willing to fork over a first-round pick in a trade and have shown interest in Orlando Magic guard/forward Terrence Ross, according to Sean Deveney of Sporting News.

Ross is averaging a career-high 13.3 points and 2.2 three-pointers per contest for the rebuilding Magic (17-24). The sharpshooting swingman has posted a 52.7 effective field goal percentage (eFG%) and is the only player who consistently scores off Orlando's underwhelming bench.

Orlando's Terrence Ross is having a career year. (AP)

Deveney notes that the Magic would prefer to move Jonathon Simmons, who plays the same position as Ross and is under contract for $5.7 million ($1 million guaranteed) next season. Simmons, who is averaging just seven points in 20.7 minutes per game with a dreadful 21.7 percent shooting from three-point territory, has not lived up to expectations since signing with Orlando in 2017. Teams are reportedly much more eager to trade for Ross, the better player.

The Pelicans are 11th in the Western Conference with a mediocre 20-22 record. They have won their past three games, though, and still feel they can reach the playoffs for the second straight season. They trail the eight-place Los Angeles Lakers by 2.5 games.

It's imperative for the Pelicans to show their commitment to winning to superstar big man Anthony Davis, the subject of ceaseless trade rumors. Davis can opt out of his current deal in the summer of 2020.

Ross would add scoring to a Pelicans' bench that needs all the help it can get. Orlando will surely seek an unprotected first-round pick from New Orleans. That is the only way a deal would be truly worth it for the Magic.

In order to make the deal possible, the Pelicans may have to part ways with forward Solomon Hill, who is signed through the 2019-20 season and makes roughly $12.5 million annually. Ross has an expiring contract worth $10.5 million. The salaries are close enough for the deal to be financially acceptable by the league's trading standards.

Anthony Davis Reportedly Wanted DeMarcus Cousins off Pelicans

Anthony Davis wore DeMarcus Cousins’ jersey in the All-Star Game—but he reportedly will not miss his former teammate, after all. According to Andrew Doak, a New Orleans sports anchor for WWL-TV, Davis did not want Cousins—who signed with the Golden State Warriors on Monday—to re-join the New Orleans Pelicans in free agency.

The Pelicans went on a roll after Cousins tore his Achilles in January. Davis, in particular, thrived in the absence of Cousins, posting 30.2 points and 11.9 rebounds per contest for the remainder of the regular season.

Davis shifted to the center position and led the Pelicans to the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference and spearheaded an upset over the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. The Pelicans then lost to Golden State in the Conference Semifinals. In nine playoff games, Davis averaged 30.1 points, 13.4 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and two steals.

Anthony Davis donned DeMarcus Cousins' uniform at the 2018 All-Star Game. (TNT Photo)

Playing far better without Cousins, it makes perfect sense that Davis steered the Pelicans away from re-signing the controversial big man, especially if he felt the locker room was in better shape when Cousins was away from the team.

Cousins has long been seen as a locker room enigma going back to his days with the Sacramento Kings. He played for six coaches in his six-plus seasons with the franchise. He got the infamous label of “coach killer” and was viewed as a difficult player to get along with for the front office and the coaching staff.

The improved play of the Pelicans in the wake of a season-ending injury to Cousins, a toxic locker room presence, coupled with the fact that Davis heavily recruited newly-signed power forward Julius Randle to New Orleans, gives credence to Doak’s report. Davis could have urged management to bring back Cousins, but he clearly had no interest in re-uniting.

Cousins will not be returning from his Achilles tear until December or January at the earliest. Coming back from an injury of that magnitude is an arduous task for any player—and the reclamation process back into the fold of the team's offensive and defensive strategies would have been even more challenging for New Orleans (had they re-signed him) with a contentious figure like Cousins. It’s no wonder why Davis wanted him out of New Orleans.

Celtics Should Offer Pelicans The Motherload To Acquire Davis

                Is it even possible to land New Orleans Pelicans forward/center Anthony Davis in a trade? After all, the budding superstar is arguably the best big man in basketball. The 6'10'' Davis leads the league in blocks per game (2.5) and ranks second in points (29.1) and sixth in rebounds (12.3) per contest. His player efficiency rating (PER) of 28.3 trails only leading-MVP candidate Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

            Problem is, the Pelicans (15-24) aren’t winning and are well on their way to a second consecutive dismal season. Davis shouldn’t be held entirely at fault, though, for New Orleans’s struggles as the talent surrounding him sucks. The second-best player on the roster, Jrue Holiday, is far from a star and in the modern-day NBA, teams need at least three upper-echelon players to seriously contend. Not only does New Orleans lack a co-star for Davis, the franchise is devoid of young talent with high upside, outside of perhaps rookie guard Buddy Hield.

            Signing a five-year, $127 million extension in June 2015—then the richest contract in league history—Davis won’t be a free agent until 2021. Even with Davis under team control for another four years after this season ends, New Orleans should at least entertain offers for its superstar. The Pelicans finished with the sixth-worst record a season ago and will likely find themselves in the lottery again this spring, so the best long-term option for New Orleans may be to blow up its mess of a roster and start fresh by accumulating assets for the future. 

            With that in mind, the Boston Celtics—who always come up in trade discussions because of their treasure cove of draft picks and young talent—may be the most worthwhile trade partner for New Orleans to engage with if Davis is, by any means, on the market.

            Now one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics believe they aren't far from a championship-level squad—provided they add a premiere star to their roster. And that, of course, is easier said than done. Without grabbing another star to compliment All-Stars Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford, the Celtics will be a (significant) step behind the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers for the foreseeable future. Boston is good—just not nearly good enough to win a title.

            Acquiring Davis gives the Celtics at least a puncher's chance at upsetting the LeBron James-led Cavaliers in the East. For Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge, it makes sense to pull the trigger on a blockbuster deal by (finally) making use of the Nets’ first-round draft picks he obtained in the trade that sent Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn.

            To acquire an elite caliber player like Davis, the Celtics need to throw everything they have to offer at New Orleans. This includes parting ways with the Nets’ first-round picks in 2017 (the Celtics own the right to swap their own first-round selection with the Nets) and 2018.

            In addition to two first-round picks—with both likely to be top-10 selections at the very least—the Pelicans will also want some young talent. Shooting guard Avery Bradley, a member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2016 and a candidate for 2017 All-Star Game, will be sought after by New Orleans if it ultimately decides to make a deal with Boston. Jaylen Brown—the No. 3 overall selection by Boston in the 2016 Draft—and Jae Crowder are forwards who New Orleans would love to acquire as they plan for the future.  
            Using ESPN's trade machine, a deal is constructed below between Boston and New Orleans. In addition to the aforementioned bigger-name players, the trade also jettisons Hield to Boston—as the Celtics will need to fill the void at shooting guard with Bradley’s departure—and sends Kelly Olynyk to New Orleans—which makes the trade contractually possible and gives the Pelicans a young big man who plays the same position as Davis.

The players set to be traded in the proposal deal between Boston and New Orleans are posted above. Additionally, the New Orleans Pelicans will receive the right to swap their first-round pick with the Brooklyn Nets in the 2017 NBA Draft and obtain the Nets' 2018 first-round pick.

        

            In making this deal, Boston becomes a legitimate contender for the Larry O’Brien trophy. Meanwhile, the Pelicans stockpile assets for the future, in addition to netting young talent in Brown and quality starters with Bradley and Crowder. The trade worsens the Pelicans in the short-term, a positive for a franchise (that should be) looking to completely overhaul its roster and hit rock-bottom in hopes of getting as many high-end selections in the NBA Draft as possible.

            Time for Ainge to pick up the phone and call Pelicans General Manager Dell Demps.

*Player/Team Stats accurate as of 1/12/17

Trade Review

Boston acquires: Anthony Davis and Buddy Hield

New Orleans acquires: Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Jaylen Brown, Kelly Olynyk, the right to swap its first-round pick with the Nets in the 2017 NBA Draft and the Nets' 2018 first-round pick