Despite a desire to hang onto the All-NBA big man, new Pelicans head of basketball operations David Griffin has begun to listen to inquiries on Anthony Davis, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic. As Charania details, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Davis will be moved this offseason, but it shows that the Pelicans are at least open to hearing out potential suitors.
Davis and Griffin recently met for the first time in Los Angeles, and while that meeting was described as respectful and productive, the 26-year-old’s preference to be traded reportedly remains unchanged. The Pelicans could keep trying to win AD over and hang onto him until the 2020 trade deadline – or beyond – but it seems unlikely that he’d relent on his trade request down the road if the team winning the draft lottery didn’t affect his stance at all, Charania writes.
Davis’ preferred list of destinations, reported when he initially made his trade request in the winter, included the Lakers, Knicks, Clippers, and Bucks. Executives around the NBA believe that the Lakers and Knicks – along with the Celtics and Nets – are capable of putting together the strongest packages, per Charania.
[RELATED: Top 25 Assets Among Presumed Anthony Davis Contenders]
While the Pelicans appear more open to the idea of moving Davis, there are no indications that the club is considering making Jrue Holiday available. Charania refers to the veteran guard as a “cornerstone” for New Orleans, adding that Holiday and Griffin have spent time with one another in Los Angeles this spring.
Lonzo Ball and a 2046 3rd round pick.
Still better than hearing about tatum being 20 as. main draw because he lacks any real abilities lol or brown another player who really cant shoot and is almost 24 years old lmao.
Are you saying that Lonzo Ball is better than Jayson Tatum?
Better defender, far better court sense, far worse shooter. But i just don’t see how Tatum gets so much love. What has he done?
Brought a depleted team to game 7 last year as the catalyst. Had a step back year with Kyrie’s B**** ass press moves. I want zero to do with ball.
It wasn’t Kyrie’s fault that he decided to fall in love with long mid range shots, and the C’s run in the playoffs last year came in against some weak teams. In that playoff run Tatum looked good but it wasn’t like he carried the team. Tatum also has had the benefit of working with Stevens, that probably makes him look better than he really is.
This is literally one of the funniest questions I’ve read in a while. Hmmm…..drafted same year. Roughly same age.
Tatum: 46%/40%/85% w/ 15 pts/6 reb/2 assts /1 stl
Ball: 38%/32%/44% w/ 10 pts/5 reb/ 5 assts/ 1.5 stl
And at 19 was one of the best players on a Celtics team that stepped up and took their team to the ECF without Kyrie or Hayward.
The question shouldn’t be “what has Tatum done”? It should be “what has Ball done” and “did he leave UCLA too soon”?
Says the person defending Ball?
Based on player efficiency, Ball is TERRIBLE. Not only can he not stay on the court, but when he’s on the court he isn’t top 30 at his position. I’m not saying Tatum isn’t without his flaws, but Ball is not good by any metric other than through the laker lens. Tatum has at least finished top 15 at his position in PER each year. Both are extremely overrated, but I will take Tatum every day of the week
You Celtic fans should stop the ball tatum comparison! Keep Tatum! Kyrie’s leaving! Just stay the course! HaHa
This needs to end so tired of hearing about this….
Griffin continues to set this up as I expected. First, not listening because they want him back. Now, listening with no pressure. Next is an offer (real or rumored) will surface by the end of next week (or that weekend); my guess is it will involve the Celtics. Not sure he’s going to be able to generate a multi-team market around draft day, but he’ll try. If not, onto July.
The structure of trades have pretty much been laid out already from the Lakers, Celts and Knicks. I’m sure they’ll be other teams that poke their heads out (Clippers, Portland, etc). They likely won’t have much to offer better than the other 3 because of draft picks.
You may think that, based on what reporters say, but they have no clue as to how to negotiate a transaction of this magnitude. Most of the important work is done prior to sitting down.
Anyway, his job is to create / facilitate as much of a market as he can, in as many windows as he can until he gets what he thinks is the best deal for his purposes. A smart seller of a unique asset always has a path to this. That you don’t think he can do it doesn’t mean he shouldn’t try. His task is complicated here because he likely knows that two of his potential buyers (Knicks and Clips, who, btw, certainly have the assets) are contingent buyers during the draft – unlikely to put their best offer forward without knowing what the summer will look like. He also knows that both the Knicks and Celtics likely won’t be real at the same time. But playing that is his job. He as some inherent advantages as well. All of these teams, and a few others, are motivated to make the winner pay as much as possible. A universal in these type of things.
My point was that most of the likely trades from teams with both salary cap, competitiveness and those that he publicly stated a willingness to extend with are already known. I’m sure new suitors shall emerge but the dynamics of an NBA trade are somewhat foreseeable.
Really? You found it foreseeable that Leonard would go to the Raptors, and PG13 to OKC, more than a week or so before these deals happened-? These are the two most relevant examples. Even KI to Boston happened out of nowhere (few knew Boston was even a contender).
What major deals are you referring to that were fixed (in teams and assets) for months before they happened just that way?
probably wont happen but I think this would be one of the better outcomes
NO
#2 (MORANT)
Robinson
Knox
Dotson
NY
Davis
Conley
Mem
#3
Dsj
E Moore
One of the better outcomes – for whom? Certainly not for Memphis.
I think NY would rather have cap space, and Morant could fall to three. But it’s interesting.
I’ve wondered what Atlanta would offer for the number 3 pick, and how that package would be viewed by NO. Two 10 picks + a couple young players + another future first is a pretty strong haul for Davis. Best way to find another all-star on the draft is to get lots of young players and hope for the best.
I think Nola would value #3 over 8 & 10. Barret is an elite prospect that could be the best player in the draft. After 3, the drop off is steep. No sure fire thing to hit on either of those later lotto picks.
Barrett is not an “elite” prospect. He is just the 3rd best prospect in this draft. He is a very good prospect, but I don’t think anyone considers him franchise changing by any means.
You would be wrong. Many thought he would be the #1 overall and he didn’t do anything to shake those thoughts. Zion was just more dynamic.
First off, it is an opinion, so it is absolutely not wrong. You might disagree with it, but that doesn’t make me wrong.
Secondly, there are lots of players that many thought would be #1 until they weren’t anymore. And he must have done something to shake those thoughts because he is not #2 either.
News flash, your opinions can be, and are wrong. Effing millenials.
So your opinion is not to be questioned, however you question mine that Barrett is an elite prospect. Pot meet kettle. Also, Barrett has been widely viewed as an elite prospect all year and nothing has changed that. You can still be an elite prospect and not get drafted #1 overall.
@dodgethis @hiflew
Forgive me if you took my comment as dismissive of your own opinion. However, I deal with the meaning of words not how you interpret them.
Prospect: a person regarded as likely to succeed or as a potential customer, client, etc.
It’s all about potential and when it comes to Barrett he is absolutely considered by almost all to be an elite prospect. That is not up for debate. What remains to be seen is if the “prospect” will realize his potential and convert the “potential” to long-term success.
So I am right. He is hands down considered to be an elite prospect by the overwhelming majority. This isn’t the Cavalier’s bucking conventional thought when they drafted Anthony Bennett first overall when most mock drafts had him around 8th overall.
When a team is seeking assets for the future they are banking on their floor vs their ceiling and the likelihood of them reaching the pinnacle of their talent and ability. Barrett was seen as a future #1. Cam Reddish as well. Zion was considered to be a top 3 too. Zion had an amazing highlight reel of dunks and amazement but if you look at their numbers, Zion and Barrett are very similar aside from Zion’s physicality that played up a lot more in college as is reflected in his insane overall FG%. However, the majority of his points were scored in the paint, on dunks and put backs. In the NBA he’s not going to be able to bully guys as much. I think Barrett’s skill level, as well as Morat, Reddish, etc may play up more in the NBA as they mature.
Zion’s is a must at #1 more for the intangibles that anything else. His charisma, his marketability, etc. If he learns a jump shot and 3pt shooting ability then he can be an elite star. Or he can be Larry Johnson which is still a win because LJ in his prime was also a star.
@dodgethis I’m far from a millennial. I’m old enough to remember the hype around Olajuwon, Bowie and Jordan coming out the draft. Bowie was an elite prospect that never panned out. Doesn’t make thoughts of him being an elite prospect any less true.
@hiflew You said “Barrett is not an “elite” prospect. He is just the 3rd best prospect in this draft. He is a very good prospect, but I don’t think anyone considers him franchise changing by any means”.
Anthony Davis was considered an elite talent. Did he turn things around for the Pelican’s? The team never won more than 48 games. They won 49 and 56 before he arrived when the best player was Chris Paul. So you can be elite and still not move the fortunes of a franchise the way LBJ, Jordan, Magic, Bird, etc did. Still, an elite player but not enough to bring them a chip, and that’s less on him than it is on the leaders of the franchise.
Not to sidetrack but that’s the amazing thing about LBJ. He came into the game in the age of non-stop sports talk shows and social media. He was labeled the king while in high-school. Jordan BECAME the greatest by what he proved as time revealed. LBJ lived up to unimaginable expectations and largely lived up to it. Will Zion? I would not be shocked if he DOESN’T have the best career of the bunch. But he MUST be taken #1 for a lot of reasons that aren’t just on the court. But experts see 3 elite prospects in this draft: Zion, Morat and Barrett. So you ARE wrong. Barrett IS an elite prospect. Still doesn’t mean any of them will be elite NBA players.
You can spout off as many words as you want. You are still not going to convince me that Barrett is an elite prospect. That is my opinion and it is not wrong. Just as your opinion is not wrong. Only facts can be right or wrong.
Whether they are “experts” or just anonymous internet commenters, everyone’s analysis about each of these players is just an opinion. You can be wrong about specific facts which lead to your opinion, but once you analyze the correct information given to you your informed opinion cannot be wrong. As I said, it can be disagreed with by everyone else, but that doesn’t make it wrong. It’s just a difference of OPINION.
As far as Davis goes, he turned a losing team that was on the verge of moving into a perennial playoff contender. They did win 56 and 49 before he arrived. FIVE YEARS before he arrived. Once Paul left, they were a team without an identity much like the Cavs when LeBron left. They were a 21 win team the year before he was drafted. They went up to 27, then 34, then 45 the next three years. That is franchise changing.
So ok. YOU don’t want to admit he’s an elite prospect. If 95% of the industry believe he is then that’s all that matters and it’s not up for debate. Again, he’s not guaranteed to be a star but he IS considered to be an elite prospect. Most of all that’s been said is that it’s a top heavy draft with 3 players seen as elite. Check every single mock draft and you would be hard pressed to find 1 that does not have all 3 at the top and then a perceived fall off from 4 on down.
The only team that would be a good outcome for would be New York. Not happening.
So Memphis trades their best player and the #2 for #3 and spare parts? Makes zero sense. They won’t need to attach an asset to move Conley and Morant is the far superior prospect to DSJ. Trade works out great for the Knicks tho
Conley is not as moveable as what the media makes him out to be…if you remember correctly only 3 years ago Mike Conley was the holder of the LARGEST CONTRACT IN NBA HISTORY…thats why he is still in Memphis, Gasol has value and way less money, Conley is a great player and has been one of the best to ever play for the Grizzles…but the sad fact he has been overpaid will make him unmoveable…
Well, teams aren’t trading for Conley three years ago. They would be trading for him now.
Not to mention the fact that Gasol is not even there anymore. Check your calendar, it’s actually 2019 now.
Memphis got positive offers for Conley in February from Utah and Indy, pay attention. He doesn’t need attachments. His contract does not hold him back, his team just doesn’t want to give him up.
I seriously doubt Memphis had reservations on moving Conley, especially when he was injured. They may not have liked the pieces offered in return, but I doubt they would’ve balked on moving his contract to facilitate more cap space and perhaps high picks to hasten the rebuild.
They did balk. They had Favors, Rubio and a #1. That’s a positive trade value, two starters on a winning team and a first, no attachments. They said no. Laydon essentially verified it by complaining about leaks!
Toronto offered Lowry & Valencuinas, IND, CHA, DET, others pursued.
link to cbssports.com
This was THIS YEAR! Why all the forgetting?? Teams like quality assets.
Conley is so undervalued it’s insane. Memphis is doomed without him and has little to fall back on. Garret Temple, who they traded, was next scorer on the perimeter.
People in Memphis believed if you have Conley & Gasol, you have a winning team, WC or not. It was true for years until 2017/18. They were 7-5 with Conley that year until his injury and then went 15-55 without him. There was nothing there: Tyreke Evans was their #3. In 2018/19 they won about 40% before and after trading Gasol. Washout Bruno Caboclo & Bulls castoff Justin Holiday were starters.
@igivenofox
This is a league where salary cap restrictions can hinder a team from improving themselves. Look at Houston. A great team still in need of another impact player to take them to the next level.
Conley is a very good put insanely overpriced veteran star. If, and I don’t presume to know their thinking, Memphis wants to bring in an all-star caliber FA (not a Kyrie or KD type) then perhaps they WOULD like to move his salary even if to rid themselves of their 2020-21 commitment to Conley.
IS Conley worth 2/$65 mil on the open market? Of course not so to find a team willing to take on the contract maybe Memphis WOULD have to attach an asset to him. A switch of #2 for #3 isn’t absurd at all if they can still get Morant at #3.
@specialfriedrice Conley is unmovable but Memphis may have to offer an added incentive to the deal. A #2 for #3 isn’t a bid deal. If it were the #2 for the #5 then that likely wouldn’t happen as Morant probably wouldn’t be on the board that far down.
@hiflew. Of course Conley is a lot easier to move now than 3 years ago. 2/$65 mil is a lot easier to digest than a 5/$153 especially to a win now team that might be willing to go over the lux tax for a short 2 year period. I doubt there’s a team that sees him as their missing piece right now as quite a few of those teams are set as PG already or lack the contracts to match his salary.
@specialfriedrice I meant “Conley ISN’T unmovable…
I’m not sure you watch games, at least Memphis games, or recall what went on this February, or understand how to put a value on a player. Conley certainly is worth a 2/65. Just not the current 4/140. Memphis does not want to “rid themselves” of Conley, he is what they want. Do some outside reading or pipe down.
@knickscavsfan: a move from 2 to 3 is absurd based on the reasoning of unloading salary. For starters, they had legit offers already without attaching compensation. Secondly, there will be more teams that can accommodate his salary in the offseason so they may not have to take back much money. Third, Memphis doesn’t need to shed salary for the sake of it. If they are going to reallocate conleys money to lesser quality players, why not just keep Conley. And lastly, my comment was based on the proposed trade which had Morant going to Nola and Memphis gettin DSJ and 3. So no, in this scenario they would not end up with Morant anyway. The proposed trade had Memphis giving up Conley and the #2 for #3, DSJ, and Moore. Not a good trade for Memphis no matter which way you slice it
Knicks won’t (shouldn’t) do this unless they strike out in FA. Even then, it would be a dumb move, as it suggests they think they can win in 2019-20 with just AD and Conley, and nothing left asset-wise to supplement them. Even AD likes NY so much that he doesn’t bolt at the prospects ahead, still 5 years where mediocrity is the ceiling.
If Memphis likes DSJ, then I’d be more than willing to swap #3 plus him for #2. Though I really don’t care that much. Barrett has more upside and we’ll see.
If AD wants to compete, Denver is obvious choice for him.
Not really up to him other that to indicate he wouldn’t mind resigning there.
Does this get it done for Knicks?
#3 pick
DSJ
Knox
Robinson
Dotson
If they KD and KI, then that would look very much like the Knicks’ summer offer (with another contract, Frank or Trier or both, minus Dotson, thrown in). But they can’t do it until the FAs are on the roster.
Nets can offer Russell, Allen, Harris, and a 2020 1st for AD. Trade Crabbe and Nuggets first for JR Smith and stretch him. Sign Kyrie and KD.
In other words, you want to repeat a past mistake by trading away all their young depth and draft picks for a couple of big names.
The Nets are a nice up and coming team. They need to re-sign Russell and maybe sign a veteran to pull the team together. Trying to rush things is what got them in trouble before.
It’s NOTHING like the previous disaster trade with the Celts. Kyrie and AD are both 26 and 27 respectively and still in their prime playing at all-star levels. Garnett, Pierce and Terry were all 35+ and clearly on the decline. And in terms of picks, 2 picks vs 4 is not close. Brooklyn would have 3 all-stars all in their prime at the same.
Okay, but they would still be gutting their entire team for three guys that may or may not play well together. We might as well just chuck it all and fully turn the NBA into the AAU and be done with it.
You mean the entire team that had a 42-40 record? If they had an inkling of a chance to acquire AD, Kyrie and KD and didn’t pursue it then they are fools.
Other than Russell the rest of that package is made of solid starters/rotation players and bench guys. Give me AD, KI and KD and I’ll figure out the rest.
Good luck with that. I completely understand your thoughts since you seem to be a fan of two franchises that can’t seem to build a team at all unless they get lucky with generational talents like Patrick Ewing or LeBron James.
The Nets have organically built a team that has grown together and are still growing. Breaking it up now is just asinine.
Why you need to attach the team I root for with my thought process is silly. I’m not a GM of either.
And NO, the Nets were NOT built in the true sense of the word “organic” which usually means they were drafted by that team. Russell spent two years in LA before being traded to Brooklyn and he might walk as a FA. Joe Harris spent two years in Cleveland and is 1 year away from free agency. Yes they drafted a few guys but this team was built no different than most others. Furthermore, they don’t HAVE a Curry, Thompson or Green to brag about as home grown, and really, does it matter? You really think that a collection of FA talents can’t blend together? It’s not like these players don’t know each other personally. it’s not like Kyrie and KD haven’t put thought into whether they can play well together? It worked for the Heat with their big 3. It worked in Cleveland. Right now, as constructed, the Nets are NOT a team good enough to go past the 1st round. NOW is the time to go get a star or two and mesh them with the decent, but not great, talent they DO have. I think it might even make sense to give though to resigning Russell AND pair him with Irving and whomever else they get as a wing or big. I’m from Brooklyn and tho I don’t root for the Nets I wouldn’t mind seeing them win.
And now, Brooklyn is not an organically grown team. Brilliant.
AD is not a over the hill pierce and garnett
Russell is a FA so cannot be traded until maybe October, if still controlled. That means signing him which would rule out the KI/KD combo. KD wants the Knicks anyway.
If the Nets sign Russell and make the Smith/Crabbe trade, and KI follows thru and picks the Nets, and Griffin holds off trading Davis until he tests ZWill, than a version of this trade will be the talk of the town for months. Russell will probably be making about what Davis makes.
Lebron and the #4 for AD.
The purpose is to add to LBJ not swap out. You really think AD and Rich Paul would want him to stay in LA if they traded Lebron?
Just swap ad for LeBron straight up. Neither has a no trade clause, LeBron under contract for 3 more years, no way he damaged his “legacy” by refusing to play. LeBron and Zion would be fun to watch. No way does new Orleans get anything close to LeBron by trading ad elsewhere. Lakers current core, minus LeBron, plus ad, plus 4th pick, could be very good in the next few years, giving ad the location and team he wants.
And the Lakers make this trade why? Let’s just say that LBJ for AD was an even swap on the floor. Where did they go with LBJ and the kids this year? It’s not really a gain. No guarantee that they would be any more at an advantage to attract an all-star FA with AD alone vs LBJ alone. Also, AD and LBJ have the same agent. Do you REALLY think either AD or Rich Paul would want to join the Lakers past 2019-20 given the chaos and then the movement of LBJ? Not happening. And while I do think the Pelicans with LBJ, Zion, etc would be entertaining I’m not sure they would be enough to beat GSW and others for WCF.
pels gonna be fun to eat: zion, holiday, and package of talent
So they weren’t listening before? Is that why they turned down the entire Lakers team for him?
Hoping the Clippers get him just to infuriate the Lakers!