That rumbling you feel is the rest of the NBA trying to beat down the Pelicans’ door.
Anthony Davis informed the team Monday he wants to be traded out of New Orleans and will not sign a contract extension to remain. Now, the clock is ticking for all sides to find a workable solution.
“Anthony wants to be traded to a team that allows him a chance to win consistently and compete for a championship,” Rich Paul, Davis’ agent, told ESPN on Monday morning. “Anthony wanted to be honest and clear with his intentions, and that’s the reason for informing them of this decision now. That’s in the best interests of both Anthony’s and the organization’s future.”
There is a not a five-man unit in the league that would not be improved by adding the five-time All-Star known for his size, strength and distinctive unibrow. The Kentucky product taken No. 1 overall by the Pelicans in the 2012 draft has averaged 24 points per game and 10.6 rebounds during his six-plus years in the league and has slotted in at both center and power forward in his career.
Coming off a season when the Pelicans advanced to the second round of the playoffs, they were hoping to make even deeper inroads into the postseason, but at 22-28 and sitting in 13th in the Western Conference, they have thus far wildly underachieved.
The Pelicans released a statement acknowledging Davis’ request but were defiant, saying they will not be pressured into making any transaction before the time is right. The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 7.
“Although we are disappointed in this decision, our organization’s top priority is to bring an NBA championship to our city and build our team for long-term success,” the statement read. “Relative to specific talks of a trade, we will do this on our timeline. One that makes sense for our team, and it will not be dictated by those outside of our organization.”
The team added that it is requesting the NBA look into potential tampering, which is not the first time this season the Pelicans have been upset with those “outside of our organization” trying to influence the future of the franchise’s most recognizable star.
An NBA spokesman told ESPN late Monday an investigation was underway into the Davis trade request and that the “process is ongoing.”
In December, Lakers superstar LeBron James drew the league’s ire when he said it “would be incredible” to play with Davis then took his fellow All-Star out to dinner. Paul also represents James.
While New Orleans was not the only organization upset at the mere sniff of impropriety with James, the Pelicans will likely be going it alone this time around as the rest of the league tries to figure out how to benefit from this sudden, unexpected windfall.
Every front office around the NBA right now is trying to work out the logistics of a trade — as are all their fans — but some destinations are more likely than others. James’ Lakers are among the key contenders, particularly with their wealth of NBA-ready young talent. The Knicks potentially could dangle Kristaps Porzingis or a high first-round pick in the next draft.
The most likely landing spot from a personnel standpoint is the Celtics, but league rules put Boston in a bind as a potential trade partner.
The collective bargaining agreement stipulates a team cannot have two players on “Rose Rule” contracts at the same time. The “Rose Rule,” named for ex-Knick Derrick Rose, allows players coming off their rookie contracts to sign max extensions worth 30 percent of the salary cap if they have been named to multiple All-Star or All-NBA teams or have won an MVP award.
The Celtics already have a “Rose Rule” player: Kyrie Irving. This means Irving would have to be dealt in any trade for Davis. As that is highly unlikely, the Celtics must wait for Davis’ current contract to expire and attempt to acquire him in free agency.
By that time, it is anyone’s guess where Davis will be playing. If he ends up anywhere but New Orleans, the rumbling will no longer be NBA front offices clamoring for a superstar but the ground moving underfoot as the league undergoes its latest seismic shift.