Anthony Davis: No Loyalty

[BigSoxFan]

Knox and crapshoot isn't much of an offer for Anthony Davis. Not enough to tempt the Pelicans to bite, anyway. Demps is no longer auditioning for his next NBA job, so the days of him agreeing to take salary dumps and low firsts for a superstar are gone. This is his last GM job, and he needs to actually turn the team around quickly after the deal.

I'm not suggesting it would be a pre-deadline deal so it wouldn't be a crapshoot. If AD isn't dealt before the deadline and the Knicks get a top 3 pick, their potential offer gets a lot more compelling. Due to this reason, the Knicks wouldn't even want AD until the summer. They need their pick as high as possible if they want to go down this route. Zion, Barrett, and Morant all look like prime assets and all would be more valuable than Jaylen, which means Tatum must be in play for Boston. And then it becomes a valuation exercise of everyone else.

 

[RedOctober3829]

A league source indicated to BostonSportsJournal.com on Tuesday that the Celtics still feel very good about their standing with Irving over the long haul. Seeing that the Celtics will not be able to land Davis via trade until Irving makes a decision about his future (i.e. re-sign with them in July), the wording of this report does not make a lot of sense from a logic standpoint. Teaming up Irving and Davis has always been the plan for Boston and if Irving has doubts about staying in Boston, you can bet Danny Ainge would have an idea about that by now and consider moving the All-Star guard. That’s not happening, according to multiple sources.

https://www.bostonsportsjournal.com/2019/01/29/making-sense-latest-developments-anthony-davis-trade-demand-saga/

 

[Cesar Crespo]

How much value does the Memphis pick at this moment? I think there are 5 teams clearly worse, and the Magic are pretty horrible too. If NO trades Davis, they are now worse than Memphis as well. Memphis will not be tanking because they don't want the pick this year.

NO trading Davis this year is potentially awful for the Memphis pick, especially if the Wizards trade Beal.

 

[nighthob]

As Boston won't be making an official offer until June everyone will know the value of the Memphis pick. If it doesn't convey then a potential mid lottery or better pick in '20 or '21 is pretty valuable.

 

[DJnVa]

Do you really think Philly wouldn't be interested in AD?

Look, all I was doing was pleading for some restraint in the thread. There's enough here from teams that have confirmed interest and was asking that until we hear that Philly is diving into this, we don't play EEI callers.

I guess if enough folks want to argue Philly is gonna offer Simmons, then have at it. But there's only so many ways we can argue Simmons vs. Tatum since we have no other Sixer rumors.

 

[Rustjive]

Memphis will not be tanking because they don't want the pick this year.

I don't think that Memphis has indicated that. Conley and Gasol are on the trade block for a reason, and it's not because Memphis 'will not be tanking'.

 

[lexrageorge]

I don't think that Memphis has indicated that. Conley and Gasol are on the trade block for a reason, and it's not because Memphis 'will not be tanking'.

IIRC, Chris Wallace explicitly indicated that he hopes the pick conveys this year if they do not make the playoffs.

 

[RedOctober3829]

IIRC, Chris Wallace explicitly indicated that he hopes the pick conveys this year if they do not make the playoffs.

Yes, they want the pick to convey this year so they can get it over with and own their 1st rounder as soon as possible.

 

[InstaFace]

Simmons is better than any one piece the Celtics have. I guess some might prefer Tatum on a Celtics board. People on here would probably prefer Tatum over Doncic too though.

I'll give you Doncic. If I were New Orleans, Doncic would be an even more exciting get than Tatum.

I'm a lot less sure about Simmons. One less year of team control (just this year and next year), and many more holes in his game.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

I'll give you Doncic. If I were New Orleans, Doncic would be an even more exciting get than Tatum.

I'm a lot less sure about Simmons. One less year of team control (just this year and next year), and many more holes in his game.

If you are building a team from the ground up, who do you want to build around? Simmons is flawed, but they would be building around those flaws. Theoretically anyway. They don't appear to be a competent organization.

 

[benhogan]

How much value does the Memphis pick at this moment? I think there are 5 teams clearly worse, and the Magic are pretty horrible too. If NO trades Davis, they are now worse than Memphis as well. Memphis will not be tanking because they don't want the pick this year.

NO trading Davis this year is potentially awful for the Memphis pick, especially if the Wizards trade Beal.

Memphis is 8-26 over the last 2+ months with Conley, Gasol, JJJ, & Temple healthy/playing. They suck but they will be trying to escape that bottom 8.

Cleve, Chi, NYK, Pho, Atl - most likely bottom 5

that leaves 3 spots between: NOLA, Memphis, Orlando, Wash, Dallas, Det

Dallas, Detroit, Orlando all seem like they are trying. It will be tight.

 

[Rustjive]

Yes, they want the pick to convey this year so they can get it over with and own their 1st rounder as soon as possible.

Was that before or after their recent horrible run? On January 8th he told the Memphis Commercial Appeal: "Question: Conveying the pick to Boston this year, is it fair to characterize that as a priority, or is the franchise open to the possibility of having a high draft pick?

Wallace: “We’ll see where the season takes us at this point in time. We still have half a season to go. We’ll be prepared for either eventuality.”"

Then on January 23rd (having gone 1-7 since the interview) they said they'd listen to offers for Conley and Gasol. I think maybe in an ideal situation it would convey but I'm not sure that's still the goal.

 

[InstaFace]

If you are building a team from the ground up, who do you want to build around? Simmons is flawed, but they would be building around those flaws. Theoretically anyway. They don't appear to be a competent organization.

We have the same amount of NBA-game reps to evaluate them both on. Based on that, which of them look like they can eventually become the best player on a championship contender?

 

[Cesar Crespo]

We have the same amount of NBA-game reps to evaluate them both on. Based on that, which of them look like they can eventually become the best player on a championship contender?

Neither, which is why you trade them for Anthony Davis. *ducks*

edit: I read that as championship winning team. I think they'd both be fine as the 2nd guy.

 

[InstaFace]

that's a reasonable opinion.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Davis fined 50k for his public trade request.

 

[bosockboy]

Davis fined 50k for his public trade request.

That’ll show him.

 

[BigSoxFan]

In completely unrelated news, Klutch Sports has cut their fee on AD's next contract by $50,000.

 

[mcpickl]

If they're bringing in Davis then Hayward is going to go to a team that he's comfortable with like Utah or Indiana because Boston won't be paying the luxury tax bills on a Davis/Irving/Hayward squad. That's a team that would have $100+ million tied up in three guys, before filling out the rest of the roster. It just won't be happening.

I don't think this is necessarily true. Davis wouldn't get his next contract until Hayward only has a year left on his deal. Not like they'd have that money tied up in those three long term.

Davis and a re-signed Kyrie would add around 40M to the books next year(Davis 27M, Kyrie a 13M raise). Between guys going out in a theoretical AD trade, guys leaving as FA and vets you'd peel off to save money, you can save back at least half of that 40M.

Then maybe Horford would be willing to opt out of his one year at 29M for 3/60ish or 4/70ish and you'd only be adding maybe 15M or so to next years payroll over this year.

Would leave the team real top heavy, but I think the owners would be willing to pay that much more in tax for a AD/Kyrie/Horford/Hayward core.

 

[mcpickl]

“Hyperbole at its (sic) finest” and you back it up with Landry Shamet and a bunch of picks in the late 20s that anyone else can match or beat?

Even ignoring the massive advantage Boston has in other assets past Simmons/Tatum, Tatum has a full extra season on his rookie deal, which should give him the advantage.

Really, what’s more important since they are both max players you hope to lock up forever, Tatum is two years younger.

Philly has other pretty nice assets too.

People were pretty high on Zhaire Smith this summer. And maybe New Orleans would bite on trying to recover Markelle Fultz, I would if I were them. They also have a 2021 unproteced first rounder from Miami.

Maybe NO would prefer a Tatum+ package from Boston instead, but I don't think it's the slam dunk you're making it out to be.

 

[lovegtm]

Philly has other pretty nice assets too.

People were pretty high on Zhaire Smith this summer. And maybe New Orleans would bite on trying to recover Markelle Fultz, I would if I were them. They also have a 2021 unproteced first rounder from Miami.

Maybe NO would prefer a Tatum+ package from Boston instead, but I don't think it's the slam dunk you're making it out to be.

Philly can absolutely craft a strong package relative to the Tatum one...if Simmons is in the package. Outside of that, it's not happening.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Maybe NO would prefer a Tatum+ package from Boston instead, but I don't think it's the slam dunk you're making it out to be.

Tatum, Brown, Smart, Williams, Sac Pick, Memphis pick, Clippers pick.

I really don’t think it’s all that competitive, honestly. Maybe if Simmons learns how to shoot, magically.

 

[mcpickl]

Philly can absolutely craft a strong package relative to the Tatum one...if Simmons is in the package. Outside of that, it's not happening.

Obviously. That was the point.

 

[mcpickl]

Tatum, Brown, Smart, Williams, Sac Pick, Memphis pick, Clippers pick.

I really don’t think it’s all that competitive, honestly. Maybe if Simmons learns how to shoot, magically.

He's already going to be an All Star without being able to shoot.

If he could shoot, this isn't even an argument. Simmons by himself would be a better deal, and Philly doesn't even offer it.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

The Memphis pick could be a HR (or not) but the Clippers and Kings picks are mid 1st round picks. Maybe we get incredibly lucky with the Kings pick but at the moment, the Clippers/Kings picks aren't game changers. We want the Memphis pick to roll over because drafting 9th or 10th aint that great.

People keep making the Celtics out to have these high picks but they really don't. Memphis has potential.

 

[JCizzle]

The Memphis pick could be a HR (or not) but the Clippers and Kings picks are mid 1st round picks. Maybe we get incredibly lucky with the Kings pick but at the moment, the Clippers/Kings picks aren't game changers. We want the Memphis pick to roll over because drafting 9th or 10th aint that great.

People keep making the Celtics out to have these high picks but they really don't. Memphis has potential.

They're still better picks than the Lakers can offer. Both this year and the Memphis pick down the line. The Lakers picks post AD would be very late firsts. Lots of teams can offer young talent OR good picks, but the Celtics seem to have the best combination of the two available.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

If Philly was smart and interested in trading Simmons they would have listened to me and already done it for Kawhi.

 

[mcpickl]

The Memphis pick could be a HR (or not) but the Clippers and Kings picks are mid 1st round picks. Maybe we get incredibly lucky with the Kings pick but at the moment, the Clippers/Kings picks aren't game changers. We want the Memphis pick to roll over because drafting 9th or 10th aint that great.

People keep making the Celtics out to have these high picks but they really don't. Memphis has potential.

It depends what you're comparing them to. If being used in an AD trade, they're all pretty valuable since pretty much any pick owned by another team is going to be more valuable than your own picks, since they'll be devalued by acquiring AD.

The Memphis pick will probably be the best future pick(2020 or later) that can be put on the table in a trade.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

That’ll show him.

That's the maximum allowed by the league without the player filing a grievance.

 

[RedOctober3829]

 

[DJnVa]

That's the maximum allowed by the league without the player filing a grievance.

Apparently he earns $78,000 per quarter. lol

 

[DJnVa]

New Orleans Pelicans general manager Dell Demps is employing a negotiating tactic I didn’t see coming when Davis asked out. He’s “not picking up the phone,” according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

lol

Listen, it makes sense for the Pelicans to wait until the summer to trade Davis, because Demps will know exactly where the 2019 first-round picks he’s offered will fall and the Boston Celtics will be able to join the fray, thanks to an odd wrinkle in the collective bargaining agreement that prevents them from pairing Davis and Kyrie Irving right now. In the meantime, New Orleans can tank their own pick.

Maybe Demps just isn’t picking up the phone for certain people (*cough* the Los Angeles Lakers *cough*). ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith reported that San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who purportedly resisted trading Kawhi Leonard to the Lakers, advised Demps to do the same.

 

[cheech13]

Maybe Dell Demps isn't picking up the phone because he's worried that the person on the other end is going to fire him for his ineptitude.

 

[HowBoutDemSox]

New Orleans Pelicans general manager Dell Demps is employing a negotiating tactic I didn’t see coming when Davis asked out. He’s “not picking up the phone,” according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

lol

And people say the NBA is boring because we all know the Warriors are going to win every year.

 

[BigSoxFan]

New Orleans Pelicans general manager Dell Demps is employing a negotiating tactic I didn’t see coming when Davis asked out. He’s “not picking up the phone,” according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

lol

Stay strong, Dell! Can't make deal now with possibility of Tatum/Zion/Morant/Barrett coming later in the summer, depending on who he ultimately deals with.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

 

[nighthob]

If I were Del I'd tell LA "Davis and Holiday for LeBron, take it or leave it".

 

[Big John]

If the Pelicans keep Randle they can recreate the 2017-18 Lakers in the Big Easy. So, they should ask the Lakers to throw in Luke Walton as well.

 

[lovegtm]

The butthurt and concern trolling by Lakers fans is awesome. How dare Dell Demps not package Anthony Davis for them now?!

https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/platform/amp/2019/1/30/18203838/lakers-trade-rumors-pelicans-gm-ignoring-calls-anthony-davis#click=https://t.co/vAx4xiBhaN

 

[Jimbodandy]

The butthurt and concern trolling by Lakers fans is awesome. How dare Dell Demps not package Anthony Davis for them now?!

https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/platform/amp/2019/1/30/18203838/lakers-trade-rumors-pelicans-gm-ignoring-calls-anthony-davis#click=https://t.co/vAx4xiBhaN

Thanks for that. They really believe that they shit ice cream out there.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

lolol

Kuz = Tatum
Hart > Smart

 

[benhogan]

All the reasons why NOLA won't deal AD to LA in the next 10 days:
1. Magic likes to tamper and gloat about it, that rubs small market teams the wrong way
2. LeBron was accused of recruiting AD earlier this season, that rubs small market teams the wrong way
3. Big market teams like the Lakers and their fans act entitled, that rubs small market teams the wrong way
4. I live in LA and I'm getting sick and tired about HEARING how freaking nice its here. Yes, it's 70 and sunny BUT these players are on the road during the season and can live anywhere they want during the offseason (Garnett- Malibu). The taxes are huge and making your home here less than 6 months a year can save a player huge $$$.
5. Ball can't shoot, Ingram can barely shoot and Hart/Kuzma are old
6. Laker picks will be in the back of the first round
7. Lakers reside in the Western Conference, where NOLA resides
8. The Celtics have better assets and reside in the Eastern Conf
9. Paul George and Kawhi all said "LA only" and NBA teams called their bluff
10. NOLA gets to see the draft picks/order this Summer
11. Lakers desperately want AD now to compete for Western Conf supremacy this season. Did I mention they have rubbed NOLA the wrong way?

I doubt Demps even answers the phone about AD for the next month. NOLA will just sit back and let the bidding begin this summer.

edited HEARING

 

[cheech13]

Let's say you're a team that is good, but not likely to win the title this season (like Philly, Houston, Portland, etc.). The fact that AD is under contract until next summer means you could give up good assets now and still get two stabs at winning a title before he bails. That has to be an attractive gambit for teams that are desperate to get in that mix without any other obvious routes to do so. They should and could give up packages that blow away the Lakers pu-pu platter. Even if New Orleans wants to pull the plug now and not this summer (which is a bad idea IMO) I still don't think LA is the front-runner.

 

[lovegtm]

All the reasons why NOLA won't deal AD to LA in the next 10 days:
1. Magic likes to tamper and gloat about it, that rubs small market teams the wrong way
2. LeBron was accused of recruiting AD earlier this season, that rubs small market teams the wrong way
3. Big market teams like the Lakers and their fans act entitled, that rubs small market teams the wrong way
4. I live in LA and I'm getting sick and tired about how freaking nice its here. Yes, it's 70 and sunny BUT these players are on the road during the season and can live anywhere they want during the offseason (Garnett- Malibu). The taxes are huge and making your home here less than 6 months a year can save a player huge $$$.
5. Ball can't shoot, Ingram can barely shoot and Hart/Kuzma are old
6. Laker picks will be in the back of the first round
7. Lakers reside in the Western Conference, where NOLA resides
8. The Celtics have better assets and reside in the Eastern Conf
9. Paul George and Kawhi all said "LA only" and NBA teams called their bluff
10. NOLA gets to see the draft picks/order this Summer
11. Lakers desperately want AD now to compete for Western Conf supremacy this season. Did I mention they have rubbed NOLA the wrong way?

I doubt Demps even answers the phone about AD for the next month. NOLA will just sit back and let the bidding begin this summer.

Love the points. Number 4 in particular is really important. The Lakers think it's still 1975, when you had to be in LA if you wanted girls and fun. An NBA player's life in 2019 is not significantly different in Toronto or Miami or Milwaukee or OKC during the season. It's a lot of planes, a lot of hitting girls up on Insta in random cities, and a lot of hotels. Not to mention the taxes, which are utterly brutal in CA.

The only point there that the Lakers can really fix is #6...why not just hold LeBron out now, and tank for a premium asset? Hell, do we know that they're not doing that right now?

 

[Cesar Crespo]

What do Houston and Portland have to offer that a rebuilding team would want?

 

[lovegtm]

What do Houston and Portland have to offer that a rebuilding team would want?

Not much...if NO's GM were Ainge and not Demps, they could offer The Full Brooklyn: 3-4 unprotected picks/swaps 4+ years out. Demps doesn't have nearly enough job security to do this though.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Not much...if NO's GM were Ainge and not Demps, they could offer The Full Brooklyn: 3-4 unprotected picks/swaps 4+ years out. Demps doesn't have nearly enough job security to do this though.

Didn't the Rockets offer that for Butler?

 

[cheech13]

What do Houston and Portland have to offer that a rebuilding team would want?

Houston offered four 1st round picks for Jimmy Butler. You put those on the table plus Eric Gordon (who could be flipped for a first rounder, too). A three-team trade with Butler to Houston, AD to Philly, and the four Houston picks, a Philly pick (or Zhaire) and the 2021 unprotected Miami pick to New Orleans is a nice all around trade for everyone involved.

Portland could offer any combo of McCollum, Nurkic and Zach Collins plus picks. They could eat a bad deal like Solomon Hill, too.

We don't know what New Orleans wants in a deal. There are rumors that they don't want to bottom out because they are already struggle to draw crowds in a tough market. A long rebuilding period may not be in their best interest.

 

[benhogan]

Love the points. Number 4 in particular is really important. The Lakers think it's still 1975, when you had to be in LA if you wanted girls and fun. An NBA player's life in 2019 is not significantly different in Toronto or Miami or Milwaukee or OKC during the season. It's a lot of planes, a lot of hitting girls up on Insta in random cities, and a lot of hotels. Not to mention the taxes, which are utterly brutal in CA.

The only point there that the Lakers can really fix is #6...why not just hold LeBron out now, and tank for a premium asset? Hell, do we know that they're not doing that right now?

When LeBron was playing didn't the Lakers have a top 4 record in the West? They were pretty decent.

I'd think winning a playoff series and raising the value of their young assets is probably worth more than them competing with 6-8 other tankers (that have a head start) for lottery luck.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Rockets could also potentially dangle Capela, who’s young, really good, and on a pretty good contract.