Feb 07 2019
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*Note: this column was initially written on January 30, 2019

The Anthony Davis saga has only just begun; it could prolong into the summer, when the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks can get involved, or Davis could be dealt within a week. It cannot be stressed enough how significant this trade is for the league; Davis will be the most impactful player traded since Kareem Abdul Jabbar was traded from the Bucks to the Lakers in 1975. Additionally for the Pelicans, after losing a second generational talent within a decade (Chris Paul in 2011), there are serious questions about the franchise’s future in New Orleans.

According to Brian Windhorst on The Lowe Post, there are only a small handful of teams truly in the race. The Lakers and Celtics, of course, headline all potential Davis deals. The Raptors, 76ers and Knicks are also expected to get involved. So, which route should Pelicans’ GM Dell Demps actually take? Here are what I think the Pelicans should do, ranked:

1.. Ring the Liberty Bell

New Orleans receives: G Ben Simmons, G Markelle Fultz, G Zhaire Smith, F Mike Muscala, Miami’s 2021 1st round pick

Philadelphia receives: F Anthony Davis, F Wesley Johnson

If I were Dell Demps, I would call the first-year GM of the Sixers, Elton Brand, right now and say “Put Ben Simmons (and other assets) on the table… and Anthony Davis is yours, today”. This is the best possible way to transition out of the Davis-era. Simmons, not Tatum, is the best player on the table. It’s unclear whether professional basketball will survive in New Orleans without replacing Davis with another big-name, blue-chip talent; Simmons fits the bill. He is only 22 years old and has the potential to become an All-NBA player for the next decade, even without a jump shot. Imagine Alvin Gentry’s fast-pace, free-flowing system with Ben Simmons and Jrue Holiday handling the ball. Fultz is a massive question mark, obviously, but he still has All-Star potential if he solves his shoulder issues. The Pelicans could acquire a few shooters in the offseason and become playoff dark horses next season and still have Fultz, Smith and the 2021 Miami first rounder. If Philadelphia is willing to play ball, New Orleans could restart with a modern Magic Johnson running their offense.

2.. Bank on Boston

New Orleans receives: F Jayson Tatum, F Gordon Hayward, 2019 Memphis’ protected 1st round pick, 2019 Philadelphia/Sacramento’s protected 1st round pick

Boston receives: F Anthony Davis

Many basketball experts view a deal with Boston as inevitable if Davis is still on New Orleans’ roster after the trade deadline. It’s not hard to figure out why; Jayson Tatum is one of the absolute best young players in the league and went toe-to-toe with LeBron James in the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals as a 19-year old rookie. Hayward has not looked like the player Boston signed to a max deal in July 2017 since his return from a horrific leg injury. This trade would give the Celtics a way out of a potentially devastating contract. On the other hand, New Orleans receives a guy who was a Western Conference All-Star just two seasons ago. In New Orleans, Hayward would be granted an opportunity to get back to All-Star level basketball without the immediate pressure he’s facing in Boston.

If Boston could make this deal today, it would probably rank number one. The risk of waiting until July, where a spectacular playoff run by Tatum could make him untouchable, keeps this option as New Orleans’ second best option. Although, one advantage to making this trade in the summer is that it becomes easier to move the money around, as salary cap and roster constraints are not as strict.

3.. Follow the Spurs Way

New Orleans receives: F Pascal Siakam, G OG Anunoby, C Jonas Valanciunas, G Delon Wright, 2019 Toronto’s 1st round pick, 2021 Toronto’s 1st round pick

Toronto receives: F Anthony Davis, G Tim Frazier

There is a steep drop off after the Philadelphia/Boston offers. If Philadelphia is not willing to put Simmons on the table and New Orleans wants to make a move before the deadline, Demps should look to move Davis north of the border, just as the Spurs moved Kawhi Leonard. Siakam and Anunoby are valuable young players and Valanciunas gives New Orleans a starting-level big man to immediately replace Davis. The Pelicans cannot afford to go into full-tank mode without dooming professional basketball in New Orleans. However, the collection of Holiday, Siakam, Anunoby, Valanciunas, Julius Randle, Nikola Mirotic, Jahlil Okafor and E’Twaun Moore keeps the Pelicans as fringe playoff contenders.

4.. Zion or Bust

New Orleans receives: F Kristaps Porzingis, F Kevin Knox, C Mitchell Robinson, 2019 New York’s 1st round pick

New York receives: F Anthony Davis

Believe it or not, the Knicks are one of the few teams that pose a real threat to acquire Davis, according to Windhorst. Making any deal with the Knicks would require the Pelicans waiting until the offseason, after the lottery results. Should the Knicks win the lottery and the rights to draft Zion Williamson, New York becomes a significantly more attractive trade partner. A package of Porzingis, Knox, Robinson and the draft rights to Williamson arguably contends with Philadelphia and Boston’s best offers. However, if the pick falls out of the top 3 (nearly a 60% chance), a deal with New York is dead.

I couldn’t quite decide where to rank a potential Knicks package due to all the moving parts. If they get the #1 pick, a Porzingis-Zion package would rank third, ahead of Toronto. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even pick up the phone from the Knicks. I split the difference and ranked them fourth.

5.. Hold the Lakers Hostage

New Orleans receives: F Brandon Ingram, G Lonzo Ball, F Kyle Kuzma, C Ivica Zubac, 2019 Los Angeles’ 1st round pick, 2020 pick swap with Los Angeles, 2021 Los Angeles’ 1st round pick, 2022 pick swap with Los Angeles

Los Angeles receives: F Anthony Davis

*The details of this particular trade are based on a trade in July, as a 4-for-1 player trade is not feasible during the season. A pre-trade deadline deal would likely include G Kentavious Caldwell Pope heading to New Orleans with roster fillers G Tim Frazier and F Cheick Diallo joining Davis in Los Angeles.

The timing of Davis’ trade demand plays in Los Angeles’ favor, as the Lakers have window to acquire Davis before the Celtics can get involved. On the flip side, since everyone knows the Lakers desperately want Davis, it allows the Pelicans to force Los Angeles to overpay (if there even is such a thing as overpaying for Anthony freakin’ Davis). Demps should ask for every valuable asset the Lakers own and then some. I would not settle for anything less than the entire Ingram-Ball-Kuzma core and several future first round picks.

The irony of this trade would be that the Pelicans essentially become a slightly improved version of the 2017-18 Lakers (as Randle was also on that team). I don’t see the appeal of gift-wrapping a transcendent player to the Lakers in exchange for a core that only mustered 35 wins two seasons ago. Despite all the Klutch-based rumors, the Pelicans need to do what is best for their franchise, not what Davis wants. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski’s recent report, Demps agrees as New Orleans “has no interest” in dealing Davis to the Lakers right now.

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