New Orleans Pelicans Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Pacific Notes: Zubac, Fox, Lakers’ Issues, Free Agency

March 4th, 2019 at 5:27pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Young center Ivica Zubac has kept close tabs on his former team and says he could have made a difference for the Lakers if they hadn’t dealt him, Mirjam Swanson of the Orange County Register reports. Zubac was a part of the deal that landed brought power forward Mike Muscala to the Lakers. Zubac has averaged 8.6 PPG and 7.7 RPG in nine games as the Clippers’ starting center. “I’ve been watching almost every game,” Zubac said. “I feel like every time I watch them, I’m like, ‘If I was there, I would help them. I would definitely make a difference on the floor,’ you know? But they’re not my team anymore.”

We have more from the Pacific Division:

The longtime trainer of Kings guard De’Aaron Fox is now his agent, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports tweets. Chris Gaston is newly certified as an agent and has launched the “Family First Sports Firm.” Knicks guard Damyean Dotson has also hired Gaston to co-represent him, Haynes adds.
Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and members of the front office believe that rival teams have taken great pains to cause internal damage to the franchise, a knowledgeable source told Sam Amick of The Athletic. President of basketball operations Magic Johnson felt the Pelicans didn’t negotiate in good faith during Anthony Davis discussions, Amick notes. The fact that specific trade packages were being reported throughout the process gives credence to those suspicions that other teams want to cause the Lakers grief.
While the Lakers could trade for Davis and/or land a top free agent, it’s also quite possible that they will strike out in those endeavors, Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report writes. The future holds nothing more than “maybes” for the franchise and this disjointed season has given it a black eye, Pincus adds.

Jeanie Buss: Lakers’ Anthony Davis Offer Was “Fake News”

March 2nd, 2019 at 5:06pm CST by Arthur Hill

Lakers owner Jeanie Buss says reports of what her team offered to the Pelicans in an attempt to land Anthony Davis were exaggerated, tweets Howard Beck of Bleacher Report. Buss addressed the rumors in a speech today at the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. She couldn’t mention Davis by name because of tampering rules, but said leaks that the Lakers were willing to trade “our entire roster” for “a certain player” were “fake news.”

A report just before last month’s trade deadline said L.A. was prepared to give up all its young talent, offering Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Ivica Zubac and Josh Hart to New Orleans, along with a pair of first-round draft picks.

The denial from Buss meshes with a report yesterday by ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan, notes Christian Rivas of Silver Screen and Roll.

“My sources have told me within the last 48 hours that what we’ve heard the Lakers offered may not be true,” MacMullen said in an appearance on “The Jump.” “… I think there’s some question about just how much did they offer. Did they even get a chance to offer anything?”

There were rumors in the week before the deadline that former Pelicans GM Dell Demps was refusing to take calls from the Lakers to give them a chance to talk about Davis, so MacMullan may be right when she speculates that a formal offer was never made.

No one has confirmed which players L.A. would have been willing to part with to acquire Davis, but there have been reports that the trade talk had a negative effect on many of those whose names were mentioned. The Lakers haven’t played well since the deadline, falling into 10th place in the West with a 30-32 record.

L.A.’s trade plans involving Davis should become clearer once the season is over and negotiations can resume. However, the Lakers will find a more competitive playing field, with the Celtics and Knicks expected to become actively involved, along with other teams.

Adam Silver On Anthony Davis Saga: ‘Bad For The Fans There’

March 2nd, 2019 at 11:16am CST by marksuleymanov

Anthony Davis‘ public trade request has generated plenty of discussion over the last five weeks, from the Pelicans shopping him ahead of this year’s trade deadline to his playing time moving forward. Per Andrew Lopez of NOLA.com, NBA commissioner Adam Silver discussed the situation on Friday, criticizing the publicity of Davis’ demand and explaining the difficult spot it has put the team and the league in.

“It’s not good when a player whose agent shows up in a city he doesn’t live in and announces this player doesn’t want to be here,” Silver said. “That’s bad for the fans there.”

Silver also referenced the “entertainment” value of the circumstances surrounding the news. Not only does the league receive more attention after his demand went public but interest in watching him play in the present also increases. Given the financial implications of New Orleans potentially sitting the six-time All-Star for the remainder of the season, Silver said the conflict has “two sides.”

“It puts the league in a difficult position because back to the notion of an entertainment product because I can tell you, I look at the ratings and I can say the interest in the team is still going to be greater with Anthony Davis on the floor than when he’s not on the floor,” he said. “He is a top player in this league. People are paying to see him compete.”

Davis appeared on LeBron James‘ HBO program this week, labeling himself the “CEO of my business.” Additionally, the perennial MVP candidate has said he would be open to playing for any team next season — the final year on his contract.

While Silver praised owner Gayle Benson‘s handling of the situation, the NBA commissioner admitted there’s no specific protocol to handle the matter.

“I don’t have an easy solution to the facts at hand take with Anthony Davis, but I think there are long term solutions,” Silver said. “We’re constantly looking for a better system.”

Pelicans’ Anthony Davis: ‘I’m The CEO Of My Own Business’

March 2nd, 2019 at 9:25am CST by marksuleymanov

Anthony Davis rocked the NBA when he publicly requested a trade from the Pelicans, announcing that he would not sign an extension with the franchise. After a period of trade negotiations ahead of the trade deadline, New Orleans stood pat and kept Davis.

Davis’ minutes have been limited on the court since the All-Star break, but he maximized his minutes on a recent appearance on ‘HBO’s The Shop with LeBron James,’ ESPN’s Ian Begley writes. Davis addressed the trade request and his intention to control his career trajectory.

“All the media coverage [is] around me, and now I’m getting a chance to take over my career and say what I want to say and do what I want to do,” Davis said. “So now you see everybody [saying], ‘All right, I see AD changing.’ Everybody’s telling me, ‘You’re growing up. It’s about time to take care of your business, take care of your career.’ So now, as a player, as the CEO of my own business, I’ve got the power. I’m doing what I want to do and not what somebody tells me to do.”

In 49 games, Davis has averaged 27.3 PPG and 12.4 RPG for the Pelicans. He earned his sixth straight All-Star game nod but to preserve his health and avoid a possible injury, Davis’ playing time has been limited.

The Celtics, Lakers, Knicks and other teams have been linked to Davis since his request went public. While the 25-year-old has said he would suit up for any team, he candidly spoke of the uncertainty of his next destination.

“It is tough because you just don’t know. I don’t know,” Davis said. “I have one year left on contract, so I’m not sure what they’re gonna do. Obviously, I stated my intentions. But I did that this year and they [said], ‘No, we’re going to keep you here.’ So for me, it’s just not knowing what’s going to happen.”

Pelicans Waive Tim Frazier, Sign Dairis Bertans

March 1st, 2019 at 7:58pm CST by Luke Adams

MARCH 1: Both Frazier’s release and Bertans’ signing are now official, according to NBA.com’s transactions log.

FEBRUARY 28: The Pelicans are making a change to their roster, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who reports that the team has waived guard Tim Frazier and is working to sign EuroLeague guard Dairis Bertans.

Although neither move has been officially announced yet, Wojnarowski suggests Frazier was released on Wednesday night, while Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets that Bertans has agreed to a two-year deal with a team option for 2019/20. Will Guillory of The Athletic notes (via Twitter) that Bertans will require FIBA clearance, but the hope is that he can join the Pelicans later this week.

Bertans, 29, is the older brother of Spurs sharpshooter Davis Bertans. Like his brother, Dairis is most dangerous from beyond the arc — while Davis ranks second in the NBA with a .469 3PT%, Dairis leads the EuroLeague with a .536 3PT% in 22 games this season for Italian team Olimpia Milano.

Once the elder Bertans exercises the out clause in his deal with Olimpia Milano and officially joins the Pelicans, he’ll be able to sign for a deal worth up to about $274K in 2018/19, ESPN’s Bobby Marks observes (via Twitter). However, that figure is only possible if New Orleans uses the remainder of its bi-annual exception, having given most of it to Elfrid Payton last summer. The Pelicans used their full mid-level exception on Julius Randle.

If New Orleans opts for a minimum salary contract instead, it’ll be worth approximately $199K for this season. Both that figure and the bi-annual number are based on Bertans signing today, so they’d dip a little each day if the move is delayed. Either contract will include a minimum salary (about $1.42MM) for 2019/20. Even if the Pelicans had wanted to go beyond two years for the Latvian guard, they wouldn’t have been able to due to their limited available exceptions.

Meanwhile, Frazier will retain his playoff eligibility for a new team, since he’s being waived before the end of March 1. It’s not clear whether he’ll catch on somewhere else right away, but he could provide some depth at the point for a contender. In 47 games (19.3 MPG) this season, he has averaged 5.0 PPG and 4.4 APG with a .451/.351/.780 shooting line.

These two moves will represent the first two transactions for new Pelicans interim GM Danny Ferry.

Pelicans Notes: Davis, Ferry, Carr

February 26th, 2019 at 9:50am CST by Luke Adams

The Pelicans have instituted a plan for Anthony Davis for the rest of the season that has been deemed satisfactory by Davis, the club, and the NBA. However, that doesn’t mean the team’s AD problem has been solved, writes Will Guillory of The Athletic.

While Davis’ trade request may not have negatively impacted the Pelicans’ locker room in the same way that Jimmy Butler‘s did in Minnesota, it will be impossible for New Orleans to be a “truly cohesive” team as long as the disgruntled center is still around, Guillory contends.

The Pelicans have actually played pretty well during their last two games without Davis on the court — they beat the Lakers by 13 on Saturday in a game Davis missed, and launched a fourth-quarter comeback against Philadelphia on Monday while their All-Star big man was on the bench. That comeback ultimately fell short, but the Pelicans looked like a more inspired group during those 12 minutes, Guillory suggests.

As we keep an eye on how the Davis situation is impacting the Pelicans going forward, let’s round up a few more notes on the club…

The Pelicans’ weekend win over the Lakers showed the sort of blueprint the team envisions for when it eventually moves on from Davis, says Scott Kushner of The Advocate. Assuming New Orleans isn’t able to land a star of AD’s caliber within the next few years, the club will need a roster built on a system and players willing to give consistent effort on both ends of the court, according to Kushner.
Interim general manager Danny Ferry spoke to Jen Hale of Fox Sports New Orleans (video link) about the Pelicans’ outlook for the rest of the season and their preparation for the draft and free agency. While Ferry didn’t offer anything groundbreaking, his willingness to speak to reporters since taking over in New Orleans has stood in contrast to former GM Dell Demps, who rarely spoke to the media.
Pelicans draft-and-stash prospect Tony Carr has changed teams in Italy, moving from Fiat Torino to Pallacanestro Cantu, as Emiliano Carchia of Sportando relays. Carr, a former Penn State guard, was selected with the 51st pick in the 2018 draft and could be a part of New Orleans’ 2019/20 plans, particularly if the club shifts into rebuilding mode.

Southwest Notes: Davis, Mavericks, T. Jones, Parsons

February 24th, 2019 at 10:28am CST by Arthur Hill

After beating the Lakers on Saturday, Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry made an effort not to increase tensions between the two franchises over Anthony Davis, writes Kyle Goon of The Orange County Register. Gentry accused L.A. of “tampering” in December regarding its pursuit of Davis, singling out a comment from LeBron James that it would be “amazing” to have Davis as a teammate. Gentry walked back that statement last night.

“He was asked a question and he answered it,” Gentry said. “If you asked anybody in the league that, they would feel the same way. I think we’re making more out of that than what it is. The bottom line is all of that’s been out there in public. There’s no reason to go into it in any detail.”

Davis sat out Saturday’s contest, but Gentry said it had nothing to do with the Lakers and is part of an organizational decision not to use the star center in back-to-back games. The Pelicans want to preserve Davis’ health in anticipation of a trade this summer.

There’s more from the Southwest Division:

The Mavericks are facing “big decisions” this offseason about the future of the team, coach Rick Carlisle tells Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News. Star rookie Luka Doncic and newly acquired Kristaps Porzingis will be part of the foundation, and Carlisle plans to use the rest of the regular season to evaluate the rest of the roster. “It’s a hard schedule, and we’re a little depleted because K.P.’s not playing yet and we certainly want to do some things this summer,” Carlisle said. “But the guys that we have, we’ve got to find out what they’re all about.”
Terrence Jones resumed his career with the Rockets in the same place it ended in 2016, at Oracle Arena in Oakland, notes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. A first-round draft pick by Houston in 2012, Jones rejoined the team Friday on a 10-day contract after averaging 23.5 PPG in the G League this season. “It feels great, like the ultimate second opportunity,” Jones said. “I’m just happy to be here. To be back (with the Rockets) means a lot because I already felt a part of this family, this organization and they welcomed me back with open arms. Everybody has shown me they’re happy to see me so it’s all around love.”
The Grizzlies don’t have anything to gain by playing Chandler Parsons, writes Mark Giannotto of The Memphis Commercial Appeal, who claims that Parsons forced himself back into the lineup in hopes of getting another contract.

Anthony Davis To Miss Pelicans’ Game Against Lakers

February 23rd, 2019 at 1:54pm CST by marksuleymanov

Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis will miss New Orleans’ Saturday night game against the Lakers due to rest, the team announced.

Davis played for 20 minutes in New Orleans’ loss to the Pacers Friday, notching 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Following Davis’ public announcement that he would not re-sign with the Pelicans, the team has implemented plans to limit his minutes for the rest of the 2018/19 season.

“League rules made it clear Anthony has to play,” Pelicans interim general manager Danny Ferry said in reference to the organization’s plan for Davis. “As we’ve done previously, we will continue to follow their lead but also be focused on the future of the team.”

In 46 games this season, Davis has averaged 27.8 PPG and 12.8 RPG for the Pelicans. In addition to Davis likely missing the back end of back-to-backs for the rest of year, Ferry indicated that Davis’ minutes per game will sit between 20-25.

New Orleans weighed trading Davis after he and his agent went public with the big man’s future plans. The Lakers were reportedly the most aggressive team in pursuit of the six-time All-Star.

Free Agent Stock Watch 2019: Southwest Division

February 22nd, 2019 at 9:58pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Every week, Hoops Rumors takes a closer look at players who will be free agents or could become free agents next offseason. We examine if their stock is rising or falling due to performance and other factors. This week, we turn our attention to the Southwest Division:

Maxi Kleber, 27, Mavericks, PF (Up) – Signed to a two-year, $2.19MM deal in 2017
Kleber has received increased playing time since the blockbuster Kristaps Porzingis deal with the Knicks. He’s averaging 10.2 PPG and 4.8 RPG in 25.7 MPG as a starter this month while making 36% of his 3-point attempts. Kleber would be a restricted free agent if Dallas extends a $1.82MM qualifying offer. With loads of cap space to spare, the Mavs have plenty of incentive to make that modest offer for a rotation player, even though he’d probably move back to the bench next season when Porzingis is ready to play again.

Kenneth Faried, Rockets, 29, PF (Up) – Signed to a one-year, $917K deal in 2019
Clint Capela‘s return from a thumb injury this week will reduce the Manimal’s minutes. He’ll still play a valuable role for Houston, where he has revived his career after getting bought out by Brooklyn. After appearing in just 12 games with the Nets, Faried has averaged 15.7 PPG, 9.9 RPG and 1.0 BPG in 13 outings with the Rockets. It seems Faried has been in the league a long time, but he’s still just 29. In an era of stretch fours and fives, it’s questionable whether anyone views Faried as a starter going forward. He should still get a multi-year deal somewhere as a second-unit difference maker.

Justin Holiday, Grizzlies, 29, SF (Down) – Signed to a two-year, $9MM deal in 2017
Holiday was acquired from the Bulls when the Grizzlies still harbored hopes of making the playoffs. He didn’t move the needle at all before Memphis went into sell mode prior to the trade deadline. He’s averaged 8.2 PPG on 34.8% shooting (29.8% on 3-point tries) in 28.5 MPG with the Grizzlies. Holiday has posted below average PERs throughout his career, which doesn’t help his cause in the analytics era. Holiday has enough of a resume to land on someone’s bench next season but his days as a starter are likely over after this season.

Elfrid Payton, Pelicans, 25, PG (Down) — Signed to a one-year, $3MM deal in 2018
Payton inked a short-term, ‘show me’ contract after the former lottery pick flopped in Orlando and Phoenix. He was given the opportunity to replace free agent Rajon Rondo in the lineup but has spent a majority of the season in the trainer’s room. He’s appeared in just 19 games, with a right ankle sprain sidelining him for the last nine games heading into Friday’s action. The Pelicans lost six of the last eight games that he played. Payton will probably have to settle for another one-year deal this summer, this time in a backup role.

Dante Cunningham, Spurs, 31, SF (Down)– Signed to a one-year, $2.49MM deal in 2018
Cunningham has seen spot duty with the Spurs, averaging 15.9 MPG in 53 appearances. He’s managed to stay in the league for a decade, though he’s usually the No. 5 option at the offensive end. He accepts his limited role and provides some defense, so it’s possible he’ll squeeze out another veteran’s minimum deal with San Antonio or another playoff contender. But being on the wrong side of 30 means he’ll probably have to wait until late in the free agency period for an offer.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Danny Ferry Outlines Pelicans’ Plan For Anthony Davis

February 22nd, 2019 at 8:50am CST by Luke Adams

Speaking to reporters on Thursday afternoon, Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry confirmed that Anthony Davis will be back in the lineup on Friday, but declined to go into further detail on the club’s plan for the All-Star big man beyond that game. New interim general manager Danny Ferry filled in those gaps later in the day, explaining to the media how the Pelicans will handle the Davis situation going forward, as Andrew Lopez of NOLA.com and ESPN’s Brian Windhorst relay.

Sources tell Windhorst that there were discussions between Davis and the Pelicans during the All-Star break about adjusting their plan to have him keep playing in every game. However, as Ferry outlined on Thursday, Davis will continue to see playing time for New Orleans over the season’s final month and a half — his minutes will just be kept in check to a greater extent than they have been so far in 2018/19.

In 45 games this season, the former No. 1 pick is averaging 36.0 minutes per contest. That number figures to be in the 20-25 MPG range going forward, according to Ferry.

“League rules made it clear Anthony has to play,” Ferry said. “As we’ve done previously, we will continue to follow their lead but also be focused on the future of the team.”

Focusing on “the future of the team” means that Jrue Holiday‘s minutes are also expected to be cut back, per Ferry. The Pelicans will give more of those minutes to their younger players down the stretch, with Frank Jackson, Cheick Diallo, Kenrich Williams, and Stanley Johnson among the youngsters who should benefit from New Orleans’ new plan.

The ostensible goal will be to develop those players, though the Pelicans probably won’t mind if they drop a few places in the standings and improve their position in the 2019 draft lottery. Ferry added that he, Gentry, president of basketball operations Mickey Loomis, and owner Gayle Benson are all on the same page with regard to the organization’s plan going forward.

“Mrs. Benson is committed to building a successful organization and has promised the resources and willingness to do whatever is necessary,” Ferry said.