Anthony Davis will be in the Pelicans‘ lineup on Friday night for the team’s first post-All-Star contest, head coach Alvin Gentry told reporters today (Twitter link). Although Gentry confirmed that Davis will play against the Pacers, he declined to elaborate on New Orleans’ plans for the All-Star big man beyond Friday (Twitter link via Will Guillory of The Athletic).
As we outlined earlier this week, the Pelicans and the NBA appear to disagree over whether New Orleans should be forced to play Davis, who publicly demanded a trade prior to this month’s deadline. The Pelicans would reportedly prefer to play it safe and preserve the health of their top trade asset, but the league has reminded the Pelicans of a rule that would subject the team to a $100K fine for each game it sits a healthy AD.
A report this week indicated that the Pelicans may try to re-engage with the NBA to discuss the Davis situation, but if that conversation happened, it doesn’t appear that it changed anything — for now, at least.
The Pelicans got a scare in their last game before the All-Star break when Davis departed after sustaining a shoulder injury in the second quarter. However, that injury – diagnosed as a shoulder contusion – was a minor one. It didn’t stop AD from participating in Sunday’s All-Star Game and won’t keep him out of action tomorrow.
Friday’s game against Indiana is the first in a back-to-back set, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the Pelicans hold Davis out of action on Saturday against the Lakers. If that happens, it would be good news for another notable Rich Paul client, LeBron James, whose Lakers are battling for their playoff lives.
As Scott Kushner of The Advocate tweets, Gentry told reporters today that the Davis saga has been the strangest thing he has gone through in his NBA career.
What is the rule? A team should have the right to play/not play who they want. It only effects the Pelicans if they chose to bench AD.. in their defense he does get hurt a lot.
Can they technically play him a few minutes and bench him the rest of the game?
Did or will the pels add AD back in the intro video?
Get Sam Hinkie in office and have him steer this situation with Anthony Davis. Sign Cousins this summer and Davis stays, where does he want to go?
The Pelicans can sign DeMarcus Cousins and Marcus Morris in free-agency and put a contender on the court next season. Maybe they could get Darren Collison to slot alongside Jrue Holiday and kaboom.
Collison-Holiday-Morris-Davis-Cousins
This is stupid. The people of NOLA don’t want to see him play. Risking his health is foolish for both sides…and God knows he’s made of glass. He demanded a trade and out the franchise in a bad spot. To continue to penalize them just illustrates how broken the NBA’s system is.
His demand meant nothing, they didn’t give him the trade. Therefore according to NBA policy they are going to have to play him. I mean they had the choice to take the risk of playing AD out of the equation, they chose to take another risk and try to get more for him.