Anthony Davis did New Orleans Pelicans favor with early notice
Anthony Davis wanting to jump ship from the New Orleans Pelicans is not a fun topic of discussion, but it could have been worse.
Having to sift through offer after offer for Anthony Davis is going to be a challenge for the New Orleans Pelicans. Deciding where to steer the direction of the franchise from this point forward will be no small task. However, despite how devastating is might seem to know your best player in franchise history is on his way out, it truly could be worse. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported earlier today:
On timing of telling Pelicans now, Rich Paul tells ESPN: "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."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 28, 2019
This aspect of the current situation in New Orleans should not be overlooked. Anthony Davis could have simply kept the organization in the dark for the remainder of his contract and then left the team with nothing when he signed elsewhere. He also could have pulled a stunt similar to Paul George a couple years ago when he informed the Indiana Pacers that he had no plans to re-sign with them and then made it clear that he wanted to end up as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. We know how that story ended with George ultimately opting to stay in Oklahoma City where the Pacers traded him, but at the time, causing the Pacers to trade him and making his desired destination known to the world was said to seriously damage any sort of leverage the Indiana Pacers had in trade discussions. Thankfully, Anthony Davis did none of this. Woj also reported:
Rich Paul to ESPN on a preferred destination for Anthony Davis: "Anthony wants to be traded to a team that allows him the chance to win consistently and compete for a championship."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 28, 2019
This caveat to his trade request is very vague and does not do much at all to suggest which teams Davis is actually interested in. If we’re being honest, there are many teams throughout the entire NBA that could quickly turn into title contenders simply by adding a guy like Davis to their current roster. He simply is that type of player.
All of this serves to create what really is the best-case scenario of this situation. The New Orleans Pelicans have retained leverage in negotiations and can more-or-less sit back and let the offers come to them before choosing the best one. There is no reason they can’t wait until the offseason to actually make a move, which gives potential suitors time to solidify their offers and figure out where any draft picks they might want to include in a trade proposal actually end up.
It’s been a rough day for the New Orleans Pelicans and their fanbase. Anthony Davis is beloved and hugely important to the franchise. But if you look hard enough, you can find the silver lining. The Pelicans should be able to get a very nice haul in return for their departing superstar, and it’s thanks in part to his willingness to keep the organization in the loop.