Knicks, Lakers Expected To Make Offer For Anthony Davis
The Knicks and Lakers are each preparing to make an offer to the Pelicans for Anthony Davis, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reports.
The Lakers’ front office met earlier today to discuss potential offers as well as mapping out the franchise’s plans. LeBron James and Davis share an agent and speculation about Davis’ preference will continue to point at the 25-year-old coming to Los Angeles.
The Knicks may be the lead contender for Davis in the Eastern Conference. Haynes hears that the Celtics are not a top destination for Davis due to the uncertainty surrounding Kyrie Irving re-signing with the team. Irving vowed to stay in Boston at the beginning of the season, though Davis’ camp subscribes to the notion that the point guard re-signing is not a done deal.
Kristaps Porzingis and Kevin Knox headline the Knicks’ most valuable trade chips. New York will also have a top draft pick in June, which will certainly be among the favorites for the No. 1 pick leading up to the Draft Lottery.
If the Knicks land Davis, it would increase their chances of landing a second star. The team has long been a fan of Kevin Durant. Kemba Walker and Irving will both be available and would fit in nicely next to Davis.
Early reports of what the Pelicans may accept included Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma. Haynes believes Brandon Ingram would also have to be included along with other salary-cap fillers and other assets.
Anthony Davis Notes: Knicks, Dominos, Reactions
Anthony Davis wants to be traded to a championship-contending team and the Lakers with LeBron James stand out as the likeliest option given that both Davis and James are represented by agent Rich Paul. The Knicks don’t qualify as a contender but they have the lure of New York City and will always be included in any conversation of a star player switching teams.
Kevin Pelton (in a collaborate piece among ESPN scribes) believes the Knicks should offer Kristaps Porzingis in exchange for Davis. Porzingis will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season and Pelton cites the Latvian’s health and projected lucrative deal as reasons he’d consider making the swap.
Here’s more news and reactions stemming from Davis’ trade request:
- There’s chatter within NBA circles that Davis wouldn’t hate playing in New York, Royce Young of ESPN.com writes (same piece). Young adds that landing Davis would make the Knicks a much more attractive option this summer for top free agents, such as Kevin Durant.
- Can we find another connection between Davis and the Knicks? Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News relays (Twitter feed) that Davis’ longtime trainer, Marcell Scott, lives in New York and works with Knicks rookie Mitchell Robinson.
- The Pelicans should focus on landing multiple picks in the 2022 draft, which could be the first draft where the one-and-done rule is no longer in effect, Michael Grange of Rogers Sportsnet contends (Twitter links). The scribe adds that the team should also look for draft picks in exchange for their other veterans, such as Jrue Holiday and Nikola Mirotic.
- Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link) wonders if the Timberwolves will attempt to get involved in trade talks with the Pelicans if the New Orleans goes into fire sale mode. Minnesota had extensive talks with the franchise while it was shopping around for the best Jimmy Butler deal.
- The whole league is caught up in the buzz surrounding Davis’ trade request and Durant, who infamously left Oklahoma City to join a better situation in Golden State, believes Davis shouldn’t be ridiculed for letting his preference known. “Its AD wanting to play basketball somewhere,” Durant tells Anthony Slater of The Athletic (Twitter link). “It’s not like the president shutting down the government. It’s basketball…We all, as players, we want guys to do exactly what they want to do in this league. They have a short amount of time,”
Pelicans Have Been Preparing For Anthony Davis’ Trade Request
The timing of Anthony Davis‘ trade request caught the Pelicans off-guard, but the franchise has been preparing for the moment since Davis signed with agent Rich Paul, Jake Fischer of Sports Illustrated relays (Twitter links).
Despite the planning, it’s no guarantee that New Orleans trades Davis before the deadline. The front office is well aware of the Celtics’ stockpile of assets and it hopes that Boston will call to discuss the framework of a potential deal once the team is free from Kyrie Irving‘s current deal come July.
The Pelicans hope to compare Boston’s potential offer with the offers from rival suitors. Davis has not given the Pelicans a specific list of teams that he wants to be traded to, Paul tells FS1’s Chris Broussard (Twitter link). However, the timing of the request is curious considering the Celtics can’t make a deal until the summer.
Marquese Chriss Gives Rockets Ultimatum
Marquese Chriss‘ camp has spoken with the Rockets about the big man’s desire to see more playing time. If the team can’t find more minutes for Chriss, the preference would be a trade, Chriss’ agent Aaron Goodwin tells Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
“Marquese didn’t ask to be traded to Houston,” Goodwin tells Haynes. “The Rockets are a great organization and the kid has done everything they’ve asked of him to get on the floor. If it’s not going to happen there, we just want him to be treated fairly.”
The former No. 8 overall pick came to the Rockets in the Ryan Anderson deal along with Brandon Knight. Houston declined to pick up Chriss’ fourth-year option and he’ll become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
“I would hate to see a career derailed because teams feel he cannot play at the level he did before the trade,” Goodwin said.
Chriss seemed like a candidate to see more playing time with Clint Capela sidelined, though the team brought in Kenneth Faried and placed another frontcourt player ahead of Chriss on the depth chart. Nene and Isaiah Hartenstein, who was the team’s 2018 second-round pick, have seen more action than Chriss this season.
Western Notes: Holiday, Grizzlies, Kings
Anthony Davis has requested a trade and it could have a domino effect on the rest of the Pelicans‘ roster. Jrue Holiday, who is gaining All-Star consideration this year, could be viewed as an attractive trade asset, Bobby Marks of ESPN.com writes.
Holiday, who signed a five-year deal with New Orleans in 2017, is making approximately $26MM this season and will take home the same amount over the next two campaigns. His deal contains a player option worth slightly under $26.9MM for the 2021/22 season.
Marks examines some other potential sellers at the trade deadline. Here are the highlights from the teams in the Western Conference:
- The Grizzlies are open for business when it comes to trading Mike Conley and Marc Gasol. Conley has the most on-court value, Marks notes. Conley’s deal runs through the 2021/22 season and he’ll take home approximately $34.5MM in the final year of the deal. The point guard will turn 33 prior to that season and his age and length of the deal present risks for rival suitors.
- Marks expects Garrett Temple, JaMychal Green and Justin Holiday to garner interest from teams in contention for the playoffs. It was previously reported that teams were calling Memphis about Green and Temple. Holiday, whom the Grizzlies recently traded for, can not be dealt in combination with any other player.
- The Kings are outside the playoff picture and have little incentive to tank considering their first-rounder will go to either Philadelphia or Boston, Marks notes. The team possesses roughly $11MM in cap space, though it doesn’t have to utilize it by the trade deadline. The ability to use the cap space will expire on June 30, so Sacramento could make a deal closer to the NBA draft.
Anthony Davis Tells Pelicans He Wants Out
The Pelicans have been informed that Anthony Davis won’t sign a contract extension with the team and he’d prefer to be traded.
“Anthony wants to be traded to a team that allows him a chance to win consistently and compete for a championship,” Davis’ agent Rich Paul tells Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com. “Anthony wanted to be honest and clear with his intentions and that’s the reason for informing them of this decision now. That’s in the best interests of both Anthony’s and the organization’s future.”
According to Wojnarowski, New Orleans has no desire to move Davis before this year’s trade deadline. The majority of NBA teams are expected to check in with the Pelicans.
The Celtics won’t be able to make a deal for Davis before the deadline, as they are restricted by the Rose Rule. Teams can only roster one player with that kind of provision and Kyrie Irving‘s deal qualifies. Irving becomes a free agent on July 1 and the Celtics could re-sign the point guard and agree to a trade for Davis, though the transaction couldn’t be completed until that date.
The Lakers are determined to acquire Davis, sources tell Woj. Los Angeles has an opportunity to pursue a deal while Boston, arguably the franchise with the greatest trade assets, is forced to sit on the sidelines. If Los Angeles is going to put together a package for Davis, it will start with Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Ivica Zubac and a future No. 1 pick, sources tell Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times.
Southwest Notes: Pelicans, Grizzlies, Walker, Rockets
It’s certainly hard to build playoff contenders in the NBA on a regular basis, but the Pelicans have failed to have much meaningful playoff success throughout Anthony Davis‘ career.
As Martin Rogers writes for USA Today Sports, if Davis does indeed leave in the near future, the Pelicans have no one to blame but themselves due to struggles in constructing a competitive team around him.
Pelicans GM Dell Demps has certainly tried to make significant moves to build a contender around Davis, most notably the Pelicans’ trade for DeMarcus Cousins two seasons ago.
There’s more from the Southwest division:
- With the reports that the Grizzlies are willing to part ways with Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, Omari Sankofa II points out for The Athletic that the duo is cherishing the positive moments and victories they can get in the meantime.
- Lonnie Walker received significant minutes in the Spurs‘ latest win. As Tom Osborn details for The San Antonio Express-News, Walker has worked hard to recover from his injury and showcase his potential.
- Chris Paul has returned to action for the Rockets, which excites James Harden, as Liam Blackburn writes for Sporting News. Harden has carried an incredible usage and workload over the past month due to a lack of playmakers and scorers across the Rockets’ roster.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 1/27/19
Here are Sunday’s assignments and recalls from around the NBA G League:
- The Pacers have recalled Ike Anigbogu from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, according to a tweet from the team. Anigbogu has rarely played in the NBA, amassing just 36 minutes in his brief career.
Northwest Notes: Beasley, Ferguson, OKC, Wolves
The Nuggets have been one of the feel-good stories of the season. Despite relying on a core of young players leading the way through countless injuries, the team has continued to win at a strong pace and stay in the top two in the Western Conference. Throughout the first half of the season, many role players have stepped up, including Malik Beasley.
As Sean Keeler writes for The Denver Post, Beasley made some tweaks to his shot over the summer and things have been clicking for him this season. Beasley is currently averaging career-highs across the board as his production has increased with his new role on the team.
Beasley is just another age-23-or-under player who is contributing to the Nuggets’ success, which is a good indication that Denver will be strong for many seasons to come.
There’s more from the Northwest division:
- The Thunder have certainly benefitted from Terrance Ferguson admirably filling in his role as the team’s fifth starter. Considering Ferguson’s youth and low contract, the value he is providing has helped an expensive Thunder team that has limited young talent contributing to their success.
- Speaking of the Thunder, Brett Dawson of The Athletic detailed the possible moves that the team could make at this season’s trade deadline, such as a possible acquisition of a strong 3-point shooter.
- The Timberwolves will have to decide if they are going to be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. Chris Hine writes for The Star Tribune that such a decision will be tough to make when factoring in team chemistry and the status of their coaches.
Heat Notes: Johnson, McGruder, Waiters, Johnson
The Heat have had to use countless different lineup combinations throughout the season as players have come and gone due to injuries, but recently it has been Tyler Johnson that has become a key staple in the starting lineup.
As Ira Winderman writes for The Sun-Sentinal, Johnson has provided an energetic approach that has made him a perfect fit for the starting lineup, especially as Erik Spoelstra continues to look for ways to jumpstart his team.
The Heat have made several significant changes in the wake of Goran Dragic‘s injury, most notably converting Justise Winslow to being the team’s primary ball-handler and creator.
There’s more from the Heat:
- Ira Winderman also wrote about the amount of lineup changes the Heat have had to deal with this season and how certain players like Rodney McGruder have continued to adjust on a nightly basis.
- As Dion Waiters continues to work his way back from an extended injury absence, he firmly believes that in order for him to get back to his highest level of play, simply being on the court and receiving minutes is a must.
- As the Heat continue to shuffle through starting lineups, James Johnson‘s struggles continue to stand out. Ira Winderman discusses if there is a path to salvage Johnson as a starter moving forward.