Was Anthony Davis’ trade demand a blessing in disguise for Pelicans?

It’s never an ideal situation with your franchise cornerstone demands out of town. But what has transpired for the New Orleans Pelicans and Anthony Davis this season might actually prove to be a blessing in disguise.

There’s no need to beat a dead horse here. We are fully aware of Anthony Davis’ intentions at this point. His seven-year tenure in the Big Easy has all but concluded. Now, we anxiously wait to see where he ends up, and what we get in return for him. There’s no shortage of theoretical packages for Anthony Davis, and what each has in common is the significant haul the New Orleans Pelicans should receive for his services.

So, in conclusion, a 25-year-old megastar entering his prime will no longer be with us. Why would that ever be a good thing? Davis still has the potential to go down as one of the greatest power forwards in league history. He embodies what the modern big man is. But even though he fits the bill, the New Orleans Pelicans could leave this saga in better shape.

Anthony Davis has not had the best talent around him in his seven years spent in New Orleans. That is out of his power. He’s had to play in a historically strong Western Conference with a roster that does not compare to the higher seeded teams. The failures of this organization cannot be pinned solely on him, but the Davis experiment has not brought about much success.

So—instead of inevitably letting him walk in free agency in 2020—his trade demand has actually put the Pelicans in a spot where they can build for the future. Now, they’re in a position where multiple teams are pondering what package they can throw at New Orleans in return for the disgruntled superstar.

The Los Angeles Lakers threw the farm at New Orleans, offering their young core, draft picks and salary relief, but the Pelicans still refused, letting other teams know they mean business in these negotiations. The Pelicans want to be in the best position possible if they are to prematurely depart from Anthony Davis.

A lottery pick could likely be involved, plus a couple of young players who have showcased potential, and probably some role players/future draft compensation as well. If the right move is made by David Griffin and whoever else joins the front office, the Pelicans can construct a roster that could be competitive sooner than later. And those super-teams that grounded the Pelicans during the peak Davis era could implode just in time for New Orleans to arise. The timing could play out perfectly for New Orleans.

The potential cap space freed up in the trade, and the return of multiple players potentially under rookie contracts is very appealing too. If Jrue Holiday remains with the New Orleans Pelicans, he could usher in the new generation of talent within the organization. Holiday has proved himself one of the better two-way players in the association, and in an interview with WVUE showcased no signs verbally of a departure in his immediate future. He could be the face of the rebuild in the absence of Anthony Davis and, with the correct free agent acquisitions and personnel, the Pelicans could end the decade on the right track.