Anthony Davis

Atlantic Notes: Butler, Raptors, Ntilikina

January 30th, 2019 at 6:28pm CST by Austin Kent

The Sixers may look to put the ball in Jimmy Butler‘s hands more often after his recent return from injury, Brian Seltzer of the team’s official site writes. Previously, head coach Brett Brown had used the All-Star swingman off the ball.

“I liked what I saw,” said Brown following the Sixers’ Tuesday night victory, a game in which Butler had a plus-26 rating. “We didn’t really run complicated offense. It was quite simple and spaced, and I thought he did a really good job with that.”

The Sixers, of course, have done just fine with Butler in his traditional swingman role – they’re 33-18 after all – but with the playoffs approaching and this roster intent on making a deep run, Brown believes that exploring additional offensive options will serve them well.

There’s more from the Atlantic Division tonight:

Through the first 51 games of the 2018/19 season, the Raptors have used 14 different starting lineups, Michael Grange of Sportsnet writes. After all that tinkering, head coach Nick Nurse is eager to carve out a rotation that he can stick with. “It would be really nice to figure out exactly who is going to be in there. How we’re going to do it. Who is going to play where, minutes, all that kind of stuff,” Nurse said.
The Celtics, whom Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald believes have the best to offer in an Anthony Davis trade, should come out ahead regardless of what happens in New Orleans this week. He argues that Boston will either be first in line to trade for him in the summer or be able to watch another team decimate its core to acquire him ahead of the trade deadline. The C’s, it’s worth noting, are unable to deal for Davis this season as the CBA’s Rose Rule forbids it.
A groin strain will sideline Frank Ntilikina at a time when the Knicks could have finally gotten a chance to take a good, long look at him, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. Incumbent starter Emmanuel Mudiay also happens to be out two to three weeks with his own injury.

Nets Notes: Napier, A. Davis, Creek

January 30th, 2019 at 5:24pm CST by Austin Kent

The Nets have a big vacancy to fill until Spencer Dinwiddie gets back from a thumb injury in March and will give third-string point guard Shabazz Napier the opportunity to do so. As Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes, Napier has already seen his role increase.

Napier has scored over 18 points in each of his last three matchups and established himself as a potent downhill threat that Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson plans on utilizing in pick-and-roll situations.

Another option for Atkinson with Dinwiddie sidelined is two-way guard Theo Pinson. Pinson made a splash in his first taste of extensive action but will need to polish his jump shot if he hopes to be more than a glue guy.

There’s more out of Brooklyn:

The Nets are quietly confident that they could convince Anthony Davis to re-sign should they end up with him on their roster ahead of his 2020 free agency, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes, but that doesn’t mean going out and acquiring him is the franchise’s best move. The Nets, Lewis says, wouldn’t likely be able to trade for Davis without decimating their young core.
After playing professionally in Australia since 2010, Mitch Creek decided to sign a G League contract in hopes of earning himself an an NBA contract. That gamble paid off this week when the 26-year-old made his debut with the Nets after signing a 10-day contract. “If I played this entire G League season and didn’t get a call up then nothing changes. I’d be proud and I could go home with my head held high. Now it’s just the icing on the cake right now,” Creek told Tom Dowd of the Nets’ official site.
It’s been a breakout fourth season for Nets guard D’Angelo Russell and much of the credit for that goes to Brooklyn’s head coach Kenny Atkinson. “I give him a lot of credit for the teaching moments,” Russel said, per an Associated Press report. “My knowledge and IQ has really rose to another level just from learning from my mistakes and him breaking it down and us [dissecting] the film together.” Russell is averaging a career best 19.5 points per game and has put himself firmly in the All-Star reserve conversation.

Celtics Notes: Hayward, Williams, Davis, Bird

January 30th, 2019 at 12:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

Gordon Hayward has become a target for hecklers in Boston as he struggles to rebuild his game following last season’s devastating ankle injury, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. Hayward continues to struggle with his shot, hitting just 41.6% from the field and averaging 10.6 PPG. He has been limited to two points in each of the last two games, and teams are daring him to shoot from outside.

Despite the difficulties, the Celtics will need Hayward to be at his best for the playoffs, so coach Brad Stevens plans to keep giving him opportunities.

“I think you’ve just got to keep playing him and ultimately he’s going to have some ups and downs and he’s had a couple of games where the ball didn’t go in as much,” Stevens said. “I thought he was active, I thought he did some good things, and when that ball goes in he’ll feel a lot better and it will look a lot better on paper. Ultimately, we’ve got a lot of wings, a lot of other wings played more [Monday] and against Golden State, but there are going to be nights where we are counting on him to close the game because he really got it rolling.”

There’s more today out of Boston:

Rookie center Robert Williams is free from knee pain for the first time since his freshman season in college, relays Mark Murphy of The Boston Herald. The Celtics’ training staff has helped Williams control a condition called popliteal artery entrapment syndrome that kept him from playing through most of summer league. “I can honestly say with the treatment schedule that the tendinitis level has really gone down,” Williams said. “It’s not bothering me near as much as it used to. Definitely a good thing, but have to stay on top of treatment.”
Along with a wealth of young players and draft picks to offer, the Celtics might have an advantage in the Anthony Davis sweepstakes because of Davis’ friendship with Kyrie Irving. “Kyrie and Anthony Davis are boys,” Brian Scalabrine of NBC Sports Boston said in a an appearance on Chris Mannix’s The Crossover NBA podcast. “I think they text like every day.”
Jabari Bird, who has remained on the roster all season despite legal troubles, faces two new charges in his domestic violence case, according to John R. Ellement and Travis Andersen of The Boston Globe. Court documents were released today revealing new counts of witness intimidation and threatening to commit a crime.

Examining Every Team’s Chances Of Trading For Anthony Davis

January 30th, 2019 at 8:31am CST by ChrisCrouse

The Anthony Davis-trade-request-bomb heard around the league has dropped and while there’s chatter about the Lakers being the only team he’s willing to sign an extension with, nearly every franchise would love an opportunity to go forward with 25-year-old superstar. Let’s look at the chances of each team trading for the coveted big man.

Highly Unlikely To Get Involved

Cavaliers

Grizzlies

Hawks

Hornets

Jazz

Magic

Pacers

Pistons

Timberwolves

Wizards

These teams simply can’t be caught in the position of trading for Davis and watching him walk. Teams like the Jazz, Pacers, and Hawks (via their top draft choice and Trae Young) probably have enough assets to engage in a deal with the Pelicans, though the chances of getting Davis to stick after making a theoretical trade approaches zero. Other teams, such as the Pistons and Grizzlies, simply don’t the means to trade for the 25-year-old superstar.

If Only They Had More Assets To Send…

Bucks

Spurs

Thunder

Each of these teams could provide Anthony Davis with a realistic shot at a championship provided they didn’t deal away their top stars in a trade for him. However, each team is limited as to what it can offer outside of those stars. The Thunder and Bucks are unable to send out any first-round draft picks for the foreseeable future (Milwaukee until 2023, OKC until 2024) after dealing multiple away selections in recent years.

The Spurs simply don’t have the pieces to make a deal. Perhaps the Pelicans aim to be competitive right away and would consider LaMarcus Aldridge and draft picks for Davis. It appears unlikely.

Teams With Blue-Chip Talent Not Yet Ready For A Championship Window

Kings

Mavericks

Suns

Pairing AD with Luka Doncic or the Suns’ Devin Booker–Deandre Ayton duo: Intriguing. How about a De’Aaron Fox-Unibrow combo? Perhaps. However, neither the Mavs or the Suns have the assets to acquire Davis and keep their blue chipper unless they land the top selection in the draft.

The Kings are the closest to being able to match Davis with their most promising prospect. Could they swap Marvin Bagley III, Buddy Hield, future draft picks and cap fillers for Davis and a legit chance to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006? Sacramento’s potential rent-a-playoff-run would certainly be entertaining.

What Exactly Do They Have To Lose?

Trail Blazers

Portland plans to aggressively pursue another star to pair with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum and if they can someone land Davis without giving up those two, the franchise should pull the trigger. The Trail Blazers have been good with this core, but – like the Raptors prior to adding Kawhi Leonard – they’ve probably hit their ceiling as currently constructed.

Would Portland rather have at least two serious playoff runs with the Lillard-McCollum-Davis trio or a longer streak of solid, but likely uninspiring playoff appearances? Seems like the former if it’s on the table.

Must Meticulously Evaluate The Risks Internally

Raptors

Sixers

The Raptors are already all-in this season after taking their chances with Leonard and adding Davis before the deadline could potentially help them convince the small forward to stay—even for just one more season. Davis won’t be able to walk until the end of the 2019/20 season and neither player will have a straight path to a contender that’s fully built if they decided to look elsewhere.

Any offer would likely have to begin with Pascal Siakam, who is receiving consideration for an All-Star nod for his work this season, The price would also have to include other assets such as future picks and other players, such as Jonas Valanciunas and Serge Ibaka, in order to match salary. The risk-reward ratio is high on both sides.

For the Sixers, it’s about whether or not it would make sense to trade one of their Big Three, as I recently examined. The team does have the ability to add Davis without giving up Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid or Jimmy Butler, but it would be rather difficult to convince the Pelicans to take an offer headlined by Markelle Fultz, veterans, and future first-round picks that are no lock to be near the lottery.

Team That Will Pester The Pelicans

Rockets

There are different ways to play the board game Monopoly. You can have a friendly game where you wait for people to roll the dice while they hear a potential trade pitches. One person talks at a time and all other players wait their turn to speak and pitch a deal.

On the other extreme, there are players who don’t stop talking, negotiating, and haggling until they have all the money. They jump into any trade talk, either angling for the deal for themselves or upping the price for the incumbent suitor. They talk their way out of landing on rival properties by devising payment plans and complex deals that allow others to land on their property at a rate that which probabilities show is favorable for them.

Both ways are within the rules, though it takes a certain type of player to thrive in the latter environment. I’ve been guilty of creating that environment on game nights; Rockets GM Daryl Morey is among those responsible for increasing the complexity and competitive landscape within the NBA.

The Rockets have a roster full of talent but they lack the ability to put together a reasonable package for Davis that doesn’t completely gut their team. Still, the Rockets will haggle, negotiate, and try everything they can to put themselves in a position to bring Davis to town.

What will that deal look like? The franchise was offering four first-rounders in exchange for Jimmy Butler and you’d imagine those are still on the table in Davis talks. Capela’s $85MM contract appeared to be money well spent prior to him missing time with an injured hand. Would the Pelicans consider trading Davis to Houston for Capela ($15.3MM) and cap filler (Brandon Knight at $14.6MM and Marquese Chriss at $3.2MM) along with those picks, provided the Rockets also took back Solomon Hill?

It feels like that’s not enough to entice New Orleans and maybe Morey would have to bring in a third team to offer a young prospect in exchange for Capela. Regardless of whether the Rockets are able to land Davis, it’s certain that they try to make the upgrade.

Dark Horses That Would Need To Get Creative

Clippers

Heat

Nets

All three of these teams play in glamour markets, though they are not created equal. The Clippers have the combination of young talent, valuable players in their prime (hello Tobias Harris), and upcoming available cap space to make any star consider joining the franchise. The key for Los Angeles is gauging whether Davis would be interested in facing LeBron James four times a year rather than teaming up with him.

Brooklyn can offer the Pelicans a mix of young guys (Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert), expiring contracts and future draft picks (the Nets have all their picks) that would entice New Orleans enough to pull the trigger on a deal. The franchise can offer Davis a great culture, a well-run organization and a major market all to himself or the ability to split it with another max free agent this summer.

The Heat don’t have many young prospects. They’re down a first-round draft pick from the Goran Dragic deal and they only possess one second-round pick over the next six years. Yet, Pat Riley believes he can convince anyone to stay in Miami and it probably means the Heat will try their best to land the soon-to-be 6-time All-Star.

The Hometown Threat

Bulls

While the Bulls certainly do not qualify as a contender, the franchise may be in a position to take a calculated risk of trading for Davis, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune contends.

The Bulls have an array of young talent. Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr., and Zach LaVine are the three rostered players who likely own the highest trade value and it’s hard to imagine the Pelicans making a Davis deal without receiving at least one first-round pick in return.

Davis currently has no interest in going to his hometown Bulls, per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Trading for the 25-year-old without getting reassurance he will sign would carry a massive risk for the organization, though if things break right, Chicago would have an intriguing pitch to make to Davis to stay long-term. The Bulls may be able to offer Davis influence within the organization and a clean cap sheet to work with. The franchise will have upwards of $40MM in cap space during the summer, potentially giving Davis another star to co-pilot Chicago’s turnaround.

If the Pelicans don’t pull the trigger on a Davis deal before the summer, the Bulls’ chances of landing the big man would ostensibly increase. The Bulls are in position for a top draft pick and imagine a scenario where they keep either Zion Williamson or R.J. Barrett and attract a max-level player. While such a scenario seems unlikely, should it occur, the Chicago native would have to at least consider coming home and signing long-term.

The Most Interesting On-Court Fits

Nuggets

Warriors

Golden State finding a way to add the 25-year-old would cost the franchise at least one of its stars, though there is simply too much uncertainty here for both sides to make a deal. Could New Orleans trade for a package headlined by Klay Thompson knowing he could walk this summer? Would the Warriors break up their core in the midst of their quest for a three-peat? Seems unlikely from both sides.

Nikola Jokic and Davis playing off of each other would be a delight to watch and the Nuggets are set up to make a super-sized trade while retaining enough talent to contend for a championship. New Orleans could mix-and-match young talent in a Jamal Murray-led package and while the Nuggets will send the Nets their first-round pick this season, the franchise has all its other future first-rounders on hand. I can’t envision Denver taking this risk, but it’s a fun alternate reality.

The Big Stage

Knicks

New York is in every conversation about stars on the move and the franchise may have the assets to make the best offer right now. If the season ended today, no team would have a better chance at the first pick (14%), as our Reverse Standings show. New Orleans could pick between the lottery-bound selection or a healing Kristaps Porzingis if the Knicks do indeed put the former No. 4 overall pick on the table.

It’s been reported that the Knicks are Davis’ preferred destination in the Eastern Conference and with the ability to add another star this summer, it’s easy to understand why. New York is a special place and Davis would have the chance to be a legend if he delivered the city a title.

The Sleeping Giant

Celtics

Boston can make the best offer but they must wait until this summer. What kind of Jayson Tatum platter do the Pelicans prefer? The Duke product with a dash of Marcus Smart and a hint of Jaylen Brown? How about a hearty helping of a former star with name recognition in Gordon Hayward? The Celtics are hungry to add Davis even if he doesn’t necessarily have a taste for Danny Ainge‘s squad.

The Tune Squad

Lakers

Los Angeles should be viewed as the favorite given that Davis’ camp has already leaked that he may not sign an extension with anyone but the Lakers. That doesn’t mean the Pelicans have to deal him to LeBron’s team. Just as we saw with the Spurs and Kawhi – or the Thunder and Paul George before them – another team can come in and take their chances with the disgruntled star.

Time appears to be the only thing that can stand between Davis and the Lakers. Does another front office have the gumption to take a massive risk and attempt to keep him from Southern California?

Blazers To Aggressively Pursue Additional Star

January 29th, 2019 at 11:07pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Trail Blazers are expected to aggressively pursue an additional star-level player to put alongside Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, sources tell Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders.

Kyler writes that Portland may be a dark horse in the Anthony Davis sweepstakes. The team has a bounty of players on mid-sized deals and the franchise owns all of its future first-rounders.

It’s unclear what exactly the Pelicans are looking for potential trades but I’d speculate that Jusuf Nurkic would certainly be in any Blazers’ deal for Davis. Nurkic re-signed with the team on a four-year. $48MM deal and with the big man thriving this season, his team-friendly contract makes him an attractive trade chip.

Western Notes: Ball, Davis, Clippers

January 29th, 2019 at 7:58pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Suns could benefit from Anthony Davis‘ trade request, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic explains. If Davis gets his way and lands in Los Angeles, Lonzo Ball could be shipped elsewhere and chatter out of Ball’s camp is that he prefers to go somewhere without an established point guard.

Phoenix is one of the few teams in immediate need of a starting floor general. Rankin identifies Josh Jackson as a player who could be sent to the Pelicans in a potential Lakers-Pelicans-Suns three way trade. Dealing Jackson for Ball makes sense for a team with a bevy of young prospects on the roster.

Here’s more from the Western Conference:

Davis didn’t earn a starting spot in the All-Star game in the crowded Western Conference and Marc Stein of The New York Times (via his latest newsletter) hears that it’s reasonable to conclude that his reserve status in the game is among the “frustration factors” that helped convince him that now is the time to push for a trade from the Pelicans.
Stein (in the same newsletter) gets the sense that the Clippers are genuinely confident that they can land Kawhi Leonard this summer. The team isn’t allowed to publicly say anything about Leonard, per tampering regulations.
The Jazz are looking for a third option behind Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert and Brad Rock of The Deseret News examines whether they have a favorable enough situation to keep a top player should the team make a deal. Rock argues that it remains difficult to attract top talent if a franchise doesn’t have name brand, good weather, or reside in a major city.

Bucks Preparing Offer For Anthony Davis?

January 29th, 2019 at 6:38pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Lakers appear to be the favorite to land Anthony Davis, though it isn’t stopping other teams from pursuing the former No. 1 overall pick. The Bucks are entering the Davis sweepstakes, according to longtime sports journalist Gery Woelfel (Twitter link).

Giannis Antetokounmpo is the only player who isn’t on the table in trade talks, Woelfel hears. Still, if the Pelicans are looking to rebuild post-AD, it’ll be difficult for Milwaukee to make a competitive offer.

The Bucks are unable to trade a first-round pick until the 2023 season at the earliest, as the Suns own their 2019 selection and the Cavs own their 2021 pick. Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton can hit free agency this summer, which decreases their trade value, and after Milwaukee’s big three, there isn’t much on the roster to get overly excited about as a player headlining a trade package (apologies to President Malcolm Brogdon).

Milwaukee would provide Davis with a chance to win, as the team sits atop the Eastern Conference standings. The Giannis-AD pairing would certainly be among the most exciting in the league, though it feels like a pipe dream for all the Wisconsin hopefuls.

NBA Fines Anthony Davis $50,000

January 29th, 2019 at 4:55pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The NBA has fined Anthony Davis $50K for violating the CBA. It’s illegal under the agreement for players or their representatives to make public trade demands and that’s exactly what Anthony’s agent, Rich Paul, did on Monday by speaking with Adrian Wojnarowski and other media members.

“The fine is for statements that were made by Davis’ agent, Rich Paul, in an intentional effort to undermine the contractual relationship between Davis and the Pelicans,” the NBA explained in its statement.

The Pelicans were recently told by Davis and his reps that the 25-year-old would not be re-signing with New Orleans once his current deal expires and that he would prefer to be traded. The team’s front office responded in a statement on Monday, declaring that the Pelicans will make the deal on their “terms” and “timeline.”

The $50K penalty is the most that the league can fine a player without giving him the ability to file a grievance, Bobby Marks of ESPN.com tweets. Davis is making approximately $25.4MM this season and the fine represents less than 0.2% of his salary. For context, if someone made a $50K salary, that would be equivalent to about $98.

Latest On Anthony Davis

January 29th, 2019 at 12:43pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Pelicans are in a difficult position after the trade request from Anthony Davis, but they still have the power to control when the deal will get done, writes Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated. There are three important dates to consider — the trade deadline on February 7, the draft lottery on May 14 and the start of free agency on July 1 — and New Orleans must determine the best time to move its star.

Woo states that trying to rush a deal by next week only works in favor of the Lakers, along with Davis and his agent, Rich Paul. L.A.’s best offer should still be on the table this summer, and waiting will give the Celtics a chance to become involved. Even if the Pelicans don’t plan to send Davis to Boston, they may be able to gain leverage by using that offer to get more from the Lakers.

The best options may come after the lottery, Woo writes. If the Mavericks, Wizards or another team with established talent lands the top pick, it could be motivated to offer that to New Orleans as part of a package for Davis.

It’s crucial to management, and especially GM Dell Demps, to get maximum value for Davis, Woo adds. Demps’ job was in jeopardy before last year’s playoff run, and the two-year extension he received may not prevent ownership from making a change this summer.

There’s more news to pass along regarding Davis:

The Pelicans’ best 0ffer will come from the Celtics, contends David Aldridge of The Athletic. He states that a deal would have to start with Jayson Tatum, who could become a cornerstone player in New Orleans. The Pelicans might also ask for Jaylen Brown, but Aldridge believes the Celtics would prefer to keep one of their young talents and could offer Marcus Smart instead. Boston also has a wealth of draft picks, including a Grizzlies first-rounder that is top-eight protected this year, top six next year and unprotected in 2021, along with the better pick from the Sixers or Kings this year and possibly another first-rounder from the Clippers.
The Pelicans may consider shutting Davis down for the season if he’s not traded before next Thursday, suggests Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. Davis is sidelined with a volar plate avulsion fracture on his left index finger and is being re-evaluated every 48 to 72 hours. If surgery is necessary, it would be a way for the Pelicans to avoid any risk and be sure that they have a fully healthy asset for the trade market this summer.
A team source confirms to Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter link) that the Knicks plan to get involved in the bidding for Davis. Their best offer is expected to come after the lottery when they know where they’ll be drafting.
If the Lakers aren’t able to deal for Davis before the deadline, they will only have seven tradable contracts this summer outside of LeBron James, notes Bobby Marks of ESPN (insider account). L.A. would have to use some of its projected $36MM in cap space to make the deal work and could include some of its free agents in a sign-and-trade arrangement, but only if they agree to go to New Orleans. Marks examines what several teams can realistically offer, including the Nuggets, whom he calls a “dark horse” in the Davis sweepstakes. Denver has a slew of young players and controllable contracts, along with a connection in GM Tim Connelly, who formerly worked for Demps in New Orleans.
Writers from The Athletic break down the chances of acquiring Davis for every team in the league.

Woj: Davis May Only Sign Extension With Lakers

January 29th, 2019 at 10:18am CST by Arthur Hill

League sources expect Anthony Davis and his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, to inform the rest of the league that he only plans to sign an extension with the Lakers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

That means Davis would be just a short-term rental for anyone else who tries to acquire him. He has a $28.75MM player option for the 2020/21 season and can become a free agent next summer.

The Pelicans won’t rush into a deal, Wojnarowski adds, writing that it will take an “overwhelming” offer to get Davis out of New Orleans before the February 7 trade deadline. The Lakers plan to try to reach that standard, with trade talks between the two teams expected to begin soon. L.A. is in position to offer a max contract in free agency this summer, but sources say the team would give that up to acquire Davis. The Lakers are willing to part with draft picks and some combination of young players Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and Lonzo Ball in their trade proposal.

The Celtics, who have been collecting assets in hopes of making a deal for a star, are reportedly among the teams willing to take the risk of trading for Davis without a guarantee of a long-term arrangement. Sources tell Wojnarowski that president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has been calling the Pelicans for more than a year to let them know of his interest in Davis. There is also a tight bond between Davis and Kyrie Irving, who would be virtually assured of re-signing in Boston if Davis becomes part of the team.

Although he doesn’t identify them, Wojnarowski adds that several other teams are considering a deal for Davis, even if it’s only for the rest of the season. They could use him to make a run at the title, then flip him for other assets this summer.