Month: May 2024

Pistons Notes: Trade Deadline, Brown, Bullock

January 30th, 2019 at 4:07pm CST by Austin Kent

If the asset-strapped Pistons are going to make a splash at the NBA trade deadline they’ll have to get creative. As The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III writes, Detroit would presumably need to unload some sizable contracts if they brought back a significant package and the players currently making big money on their roster – outside of Blake Griffin – aren’t particularly desirable.

Edwards writes that Pistons senior adviser Ed Stefanski isn’t eager to give up a future first-round pick simply to alleviate the cap burden of its weighty contracts (Reggie Jackson‘s $17MM, Jon Leuer‘s $10MM, for example) but those picks could be in play if a solid star comes along. Edwards includes Bradley Beal as a hypothetical possibility that might warrant such a return.

The Pistons have some players that could be considered modest assets ahead of the deadline, including sophomore Luke Kennard and fourth-year forward Stanley Johnson. Ish Smith and Reggie Bullock, similarly, could draw interest from contending teams looking to shore up their rotations with veteran depth.

There’s more from Detroit:

While there are plenty of scenarios that could hypothetically jump-start a Pistons rebuild, Keith Langlois of the team’s official website writes in a weekly mailbag that he’d wager the team stands pat at the deadline. The club may look to shore up its second-unit but lack draft assets to offer in trades.
Scrappy first-year guard Bruce Brown has struggled to showcase his elite defensive skills lately, something head coach Dwane Casey‘s believes could be attributable to a famous foe in the basketball world. “I don’t know if it’s a rookie wall or whatever, but just the concentration, the attention to detail,” Casey told Keith Langlois of Pistons.com. “Those are mental things that young fellows usually make when they’re mentally fatigued a little bit.“
In the same blog post, Langlois writes that Reggie Bullock practiced on Wednesday. The 27-year-old sharpshooter and potential trade chip missed Tuesday’s game with a sprained ankle that has plagued him and and off throughout the season. His status is uncertain for Thursday.

Wolves Sign Isaiah Canaan To 10-Day Deal

January 30th, 2019 at 3:20pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Jan. 30: The Wolves have officially inked Canaan to a 10-day deal, the team’s media department announced in a press release.

Jan. 29: The Timberwolves will sign Isaiah Canaan to a 10-day deal, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). He’s expected to be available for Wednesday’s tilt vs. the Grizzlies.

Minnesota is down a few players with Tyus Jones (ankle) and Jeff Teague (foot) out with injuries. Derrick Rose has joined them on the sidelines for the past two games with an ankle injury of his own, leaving Jerryd Bayless as the only experienced point guard healthy enough to suit up.

Canaan spent time with the Suns in each of the past two seasons, playing 19 games during the 2017/18 season before being waived, and 19 games this season before the team waived him again. In total, he’s played in 224 NBA games over the past six seasons, averaging 8.4 points and 1.9 assists per contest.

Sixers Interested In Dewayne Dedmon

January 30th, 2019 at 2:58pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Sixers have shown interest in acquiring Hawks center Dewayne Dedmon, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN, but they may have to part with Markelle Fultz to get a deal done.

Philadelphia has a need for more athleticism and defense off its bench, which Dedmon would provide. The 29-year-old is averaging 10.3 points and 7.4 rebounds in his second season with Atlanta.

The Sixers have been reluctant to part with Fultz, even though he has played just 33 games since being selected first overall in the 2017 draft. He remains sidelined indefinitely with thoracic outlet syndrome and continues to do rehab work on his shoulder.

At $8.3MM, Fultz is a rare mid-level contract on a team that has nine players making less than $5MM, Bontemps notes. Dedmon has a $7.2MM expiring contract, but Philadelphia may not have anything else that the Hawks want for salary matching purposes if Fultz isn’t included.

The Sixers thinned out their bench by sending Robert Covington and Dario Saric to Minnesota in the trade for Jimmy Butler. Coach Brett Brown tried Furkan Korkmaz as a backup forward, but teams were exploiting his defensive weaknesses too frequently to leave him in the lineup, according to Bontemps. Brown has attempted to turn backup center Mike Muscala into a power forward, but it’s tough for him to guard smaller and more mobile players at that position.

Lakers Notes: Zubac, Trade Candidates, Walton, LeBron

January 30th, 2019 at 2:02pm CST by Arthur Hill

Third-year center Ivica Zubac has gone from a little-used player at the end of the Lakers‘ bench to a possible component of an Anthony Davis trade, writes Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times. Given an opportunity to play, the 21-year-old has averaged 13.2 points and 6.8 rebounds over the past 10 games and has become a frequent part of trade rumors.

“He’s been great. That’s more of the norm in this league, you kind of develop your habits, you play, you get frustrated. … Consistency is a challenge for a young player,” coach Luke Walton said. “You fall out of the rotation. You get hungry and you keep working and you come back in. With him, he’s always had a great attitude and he’s worked hard.”

It’s the Lakers’ collection of young talent — some combination of Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart — that would get a deal done, Woike notes, but Zubac could be valuable as a filler. Still, L.A. wouldn’t mind keeping him to provide bulk against the other Western Conference big men.

There’s more Lakers news to pass along:

Walton met individually with the players rumored to be involved in the Davis deal, just as he did last season when talk emerged that the team was going to clear cap room for a run at LeBron James, relays Dave McMenamin of ESPN. A source says the speculation is “weighing heavily” on some of the players who may be headed to New Orleans, although another source said Pelicans GM Dell Demps is “not picking up his phone” to discuss a trade.
Walton tells Kyle Goon of The Orange County Register that James is “just happy to be back on the basketball court again” as he nears a return from a groin strain that has sidelined him for more than a month. James has been participating more in practice lately, rather than spending time in the training room, and has been staying late for extra shooting. “I don’t think he’s going full out yet,” Walton said. “Haven’t really seen him drive the lane and tomahawk dunk on anyone but he’s moving, he’s moving well and he’s getting up and down the court and he’s shooting well. He doesn’t look like he’s hurting at all when he moves.”
Tom Ziller of SB Nation offers some unusual advice to the Lakers to improve their chances of landing Davis — tanking for the rest of the season. While he admits it’s unlikely that L.A. would consider that strategy, Ziller notes that the team is 6-11 since James’ injury and that a mid-lottery pick would be another valuable asset to offer the Pelicans.

Wizards Notes: McRae, Brooks, Porter, Cousins

January 30th, 2019 at 1:02pm CST by Arthur Hill

Two-way player Jordan McRae showed off his scoring prowess in Tuesday’s loss to the Cavaliers, writes Ben Standig of NBC Sports Washington. The G League’s top scorer this season at 29.8 PPG, McRae hit all five of his shots from the field, finished with 15 points and was part of a reserve unit that led a huge fourth-quarter rally.

McRae had prior NBA opportunities in Phoenix and Cleveland before signing with the Wizards in September. Defense and attitude remain concerns, Standig notes, but there’s no question about his ability to provide a spark on offense.

“I think it’s just about [Jordan’s] mentality,” said Jarell Christian, head coach of Washington’s Capital City G League affiliate. “When he’s thrown into a game on the next level, still being able to function without getting the ball every possession.”

McRae has been waiting all season for an NBA opportunity, but has watched the Wizards go in other directions. They signed Ron Baker in December, then gave a 10-day contract to Gary Payton II last week.

There’s more from Washington:

Coach Scott Brooks made a statement by sticking with a patchwork lineup in the final seconds of Tuesday’s game, notes Fred Katz of The Athletic. McRae teamed with Payton, Troy Brown, Sam Dekker and Thomas Bryant to overcome a 25-point deficit with seven minutes to play. Brooks gave that unit a chance to tie the game at the end instead of turning to his regulars. “They played harder than the (starters),” Brooks said afterward. “And our starters didn’t play hard enough. That’s the bottom line.”
Otto Porter Jr. has adapted well to his new sixth man role, writes Candace Buckner of The Washington Post. A starter for the past four years, Porter joined the reserve unit in early January because he was on a minutes restriction while returning from a quadriceps injury. He has accepted the backup spot despite being the team’s highest-paid player. “I mean, of course everybody in the NBA wants to start,” Porter said. “It’s an earned position, but at the same time, for the better of the team, you have to take sacrifices. And that’s what I’ve been doing.”
The Wizards had discussions with DeMarcus Cousins when he was a free agent last summer, but the sides were never close to a deal, Buckner relays in a separate story. Cousins turned aside questions during the Warriors’ appearance in Washington this week, but Brooks offered an explanation of what happened. “I think the conversation took place but it was his decision,” Brooks said. “When we made the trade [with Marcin] Gortat, we needed somebody now. We couldn’t afford to wait five or six months or four months into the season. We needed a live, active player that was ready to start the season.”

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.

Pelicans Notes: Ball, Davis, Lakers, Demps

January 30th, 2019 at 11:08am CST by Arthur Hill

Although Lonzo Ball would reportedly resist a trade to New Orleans, the Pelicans see him as an important part of any potential deal for Anthony Davis, according to Tania Ganguli of The Los Angeles Times. Sources tell her that Ball would become the starting point guard in New Orleans and would be given every opportunity to become a star.

Ball’s representatives had expressed concern that he might not have a clear role in a crowded Pelicans backcourt where Elfrid Payton is the starter at point guard and Jrue Holiday can also play that position. However, Holiday “doesn’t want to be a point guard” and prefers his current role, according to one source. It’s not clear whether the Pelicans intend to keep Payton or trade him to another team if they acquire Ball. He has an expiring $3MM contract and will be a free agent this summer.

There’s more Pelicans news to pass along:

The Lakers believe New Orleans is targeting Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Ivica Zubac as the main components of a Davis trade, relays Sam Amick of The Athletic in an examination of the key players in the drama. However, he adds that L.A. should be prepared to give up Brandon Ingram if that’s what it takes to get a deal finalized before next week’s trade deadline. Sources also tell Amick that LeBron James has been visibly frustrated over the direction the Lakers’ season has taken since he was sidelined with a groin injury on Christmas Day. L.A. has fallen to ninth place in the West, which should increase the urgency to acquire Davis as soon as possible.
There has been speculation that the way the Davis situation has played out will eventually cost GM Dell Demps his job, but Justin Verrier of The Ringer points out that there’s no obvious candidate to replace him. In previous years, there was speculation that the Pelicans might ask Joe Dumars to take over, but Verrier suggests Dumars might have been responsible for those rumors. Many of Pelicans’ top executives also work for the NFL’s Saints and don’t have the basketball expertise to run a team. Former Hawks executive Danny Ferry has been serving as a consultant and could be next in line if Demps is dismissed. Verrier’s comments are part of a larger look at whether the NBA has a future in New Orleans.
Davis will talk to the media Friday afternoon for the first time since making his trade request, tweets Scott Kushner of The Advocate.

Knicks Notes: Kanter, Davis, Robinson, Ball

January 30th, 2019 at 9:48am CST by Arthur Hill

Knicks fans have taken Enes Kanter‘s side in his dispute with coach David Fizdale over playing time, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. Kanter has sat out the past four games despite reportedly being promised an expanded role in the wake of an injury to Luke Kornet. Fans at Madison Square Garden expressed their support by chanting Kanter’s name during Sunday’s loss to the Heat.

“[If] it was a road game, I understand,” Kanter said. “But it’s a home game, and the fans wanted to see me out here. And they were chanting. I felt bad I couldn’t go out there and help my teammates and the organization. You can’t go out there and help the fans because they’re paying so much money to come watch us. They want to see me out there.”

Fizdale can’t claim it’s because he’s giving more time to younger players, Berman notes, because 30-year-old Lance Thomas has moved into the starting lineup at power forward. Kanter is a prime candidate to be traded by next week’s deadline or bought out if nothing materializes.

“My agent is saying just keep your head up, stay strong and stay in shape and keep being a good teammate and I’ll handle the rest,” Kanter said. “I’m going to leave it to him.”

There’s more this morning out of New York:

The Knicks are expected to be aggressive in their efforts to land Pelicans star Anthony Davis, but the front office isn’t clear on what New Orleans wants in a potential deal, Berman reports in a separate story. New York has a wealth of future assets to offer, including a high lottery pick in this year’s draft and rookie center Mitchell Robinson, a Louisiana native whom the Pelicans have “always liked,” a source tells Berman. New Orleans didn’t have a first-round pick last summer, and Robinson had already been taken before its first selection at No. 52. However, an NBA talent evaluator says the only things the Pelicans would be interested in from the Knicks are Kristaps Porzingis and draft picks.
A trade of Davis to the Lakers could help the Knicks solve their problems at point guard, Berman adds in the same piece. Lonzo Ball reportedly doesn’t want to play in New Orleans and could be available if New York gets involved to make it a three-team deal. Berman states that the Knicks “loved” Ball coming out of college and might see him as a long-term answer. It’s also possible that the Pelicans could keep Ball and look to unload Elfrid Payton, whom New York GM Scott Perry drafted in Orlando and tried to acquire at last year’s trade deadline.
Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic wonders if the Knicks would be willing to surrender their first-round pick and rookie Kevin Knox to the Pelicans to make a deal work for Davis. He also speculates on other players who may be involved in a potential offer.

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.

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