Anthony Davis Rumors | Hoops Rumors

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 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.

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.

Gentry: Anthony Davis Will Play On Friday

February 21st, 2019 at 12:27pm CST by Luke Adams

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.

Celtics Notes: A. Davis, Irving, Tatum

February 20th, 2019 at 12:17pm CST by Luke Adams

When he was interviewed in Charlotte this past weekend about his list of preferred destinations, Anthony Davis said that the Celtics are on that list: “I never said they weren’t on my list.”

However, Davis subsequently added that all 29 teams outside of New Orleans are on his list, which somewhat diminished the impact of him specifically including Boston. Now, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium (video link) is reporting that the C’s may not really be on Davis’ short list.

“I’m still told his four-team list of the Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, [and] Bucks still exists in that order,” Charania said. “… There are a couple other teams – undisclosed right now – that he would also consider. The Celtics, I’m told, are still not a long-term destination for him in his mind. Where the Celtics stand has not changed despite what Anthony Davis said over the weekend.”

It’s hard to know exactly what to make of Davis’ comments at All-Star Weekend – which were a little all over the place, as Sean Deveney of Sporting News outlines – and Charania’s latest report. The long-term appeal of the Celtics for Davis will likely hinge in large part on whether or not Kyrie Irving sticks around, so AD’s camp might be hedging its bets to prepare for either outcome.

In any case, Davis’ wish list may ultimately not matter a whole lot, as the Pelicans plan to negotiate with any team that wants to get involved in the offseason — not just the four teams Davis views as potential long-term homes.

Here’s more on the Celtics:

In a conversation with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols (video link), Kyrie Irving spoke about the Celtics’ up-and-down season, his phone call to LeBron James, and whether his upcoming free agency is a distraction. He was also asked whether he agreed with Marcus Morris‘ contention that it hasn’t been a “fun” season in Boston. “It’s been a trying year for us,” Irving said. “We basically have a bunch of young men in our locker room that feel like they’re capable of doing a lot more than what they’re doing. And that’s okay. But there’s a maturity that you have to have, there’s a professionalism that you have to really showcase every single day, and that’s what the great ones do.”
A major player in those Davis trade rumors, Jayson Tatum told ESPN at All-Star weekend that he’d like to play for the Celtics for his entire NBA career. In order to achieve that goal, he may have to prove his value in the coming months, showing why Danny Ainge and the C’s shouldn’t include him in an offer for AD, writes Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston.
In a separate story for NBC Sports Boston, Forsberg makes the case that the 2018/19 Celtics are a legit contender worthy of fans’ complete attention — even if offseason speculation about Irving, Davis, and the team’s future seems more exciting at the moment.

Pelicans May Re-Engage NBA On Davis Situation

February 19th, 2019 at 2:26pm CST by Luke Adams

With the Pelicans set to resume play this Friday in Indiana, it’s still not clear whether Anthony Davis will continue to take the court for the team going forward.

Davis has said he plans to play the rest of the season, and it appears the shoulder injury that knocked him out of last Thursday’s contest is minor, as he was able to play in the All-Star Game. However, there are reportedly members of the Pelicans’ organization who believe he has played his last game for the team — the club would prefer to sit him to minimize the risk of an injury that would adversely impact his trade value ahead of a crucial offseason.

In a column addressing the Davis situation, Marc Stein of The New York Times writes of “strong signals” that the Pelicans intend to re-engage the NBA this week to discuss the matter. The organization, which replaced general manager Dell Demps with interim GM Danny Ferry last week, hopes to convince league officials to reconsider their stance on forcing the Pelicans to play Davis, says Stein.

When the Pelicans initially mulled the possibility of sitting Davis following the trade deadline, the league reportedly reached out to remind them that teams are subject to fines of $100K for benching healthy players. New Orleans wouldn’t be the first club to sit a healthy veteran this season, but the NBA wants to make a distinction between a difference maker like AD and lesser players like J.R. Smith and Enes Kanter.

In Stein’s view, the league’s stance that the Pelicans would be hurting the ticket-buying public by holding Davis out of action rings hollow, since fans in New Orleans recognize that the All-Star big man no longer wants to be there. Forcing the Pelicans to play him against their will is making an uncomfortable situation even more toxic, Stein argues.

With 23 games left on the Pelicans’ schedule, this will be a situation worth keeping a close eye on the rest of the way. If the club eventually decides to sit Davis – with or without the NBA’s approval – the players’ union may get involved, which would make things even messier. But if the Pelicans hope to maximize their return for Davis in an offseason trade, the drama may be worth it.