2019 NBA Trade Deadline: 10 teams that should trade for Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis has informed the New Orleans Pelicans he won’t be signing an extension this summer, so it’s time to figure out what trades for the Brow might look like.
The day New Orleans Pelicans fans have been dreading for years has finally arrived: As first reported by ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, Anthony Davis has informed the team he will not sign a contract extension this summer, effectively requesting a trade before leaving the franchise for nothing in 2020 free agency.
The Pelicans don’t have to deal him before the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline on Feb. 7, but the clock is ticking. The longer they wait, the less teams will be willing to give up in a potential trade package, since it’s now public knowledge they have no choice but to move him.
At the same time, no one would fault New Orleans for waiting until the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery to determine the lay of the land. A team interested in dealing for AD might have an extra blue chip in its back pocket if it lands the No. 1 pick that has “Zion Williamson” written all over it.
This potential advantage matters, since AD if a certifiable top-10 player in this league at worst and is barely entering his prime at 25 years old. Averaging 29.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.6 blocks and 1.7 steals per game on .508/.325/.812 shooting splits, the Brow is a franchise-changing talent on both ends.
It’s not a stretch to say the NBA has never seen a superstar of his caliber traded in the middle of his prime like this. The offers will have to be elite to catch New Orleans’ eye, and whatever team trades for him will still need to have a championship core intact after the exchange (or the potential to build one), preferably in a big market with the cap space to construct a super-team.
However, that limited description won’t prevent teams around the league from doing their due diligence on an MVP-caliber player. In that spirit, we have to be thorough in examining potential trade packages for Anthony Davis, “narrowing” it down to just 10.
For our purposes, the Boston Celtics will be excluded from the conversation. While they might have the most attractive trade package around, they are not able to deal for AD until Kyrie Irving becomes a free agent on July 1 due to the Rose Rule. Irving and Davis have already signed such extensions, but teams are only allowed to trade for one such player.
According to Yahoo! Sports‘ Chris Haynes, Boston isn’t an attractive destination for Davis at the moment due to questions over Irving’s commitment to the franchise as he approaches unrestricted free agency this summer.
In any case, the Celtics can’t make a deal for AD until the summer, which puts pressure on the teams interested in his services to get something done now. If the Pelicans are attracted by an offer and decide to move before Boston can deal for him or before the draft order is determined, here are 10 potential offers that might get the job done ahead of the deadline.
Honorable Mention: Los Angeles Clippers