With the release of reports early Monday morning that Anthony Davis would like to be traded out of New Orleans, the league jumped to the assumption that a deal sending him to the Los Angeles Lakers was right around the corner. However, the New Orleans Pelicans may take their time in moving Davis.
According to Sean Deveney of SportingNews, one league source believes that the Pelicans are in no hurry to trade Anthony Davis. The source pointed out that Dell Demps “is a pretty careful guy” who won't make a rushed decision.
“I don’t think the guys in New Orleans care that Davis or the Lakers or anyone want to get this done quickly,” the source told Sporting News. “They are not going to hurry through this. There’s no need for that. You have a top-five player in the league. Dell (Demps, the New Orleans general manager) is a pretty careful guy, and even if he gets told from above to make a trade, he can make the case that they should make it in the offseason.”
“He might get fired in all this, but still, he’d be right to tell them to wait.”
Waiting until this summer could be in the best interest of New Orleans. Currently, the Lakers have the most assets to put together an enticing trade package for Davis. However, once Kyrie Irving becomes a free agent, Boston could throw any of their roster pieces, Jayson Tatum included, into the mix.
Article Continues BelowMoreover, pushing for a cautious approach at the trade would also allow the Pelicans to see how the draft lottery unfolds before making a move. If the Knicks end up with the number one pick, combining that with pieces like Kevin Knox, or even Kristaps Porzingis, could create a more tantalizing offer for New Orleans.
The only downside is that Davis is getting closer to his free agency in 2020. With that said, if he decides to specify where he will re-sign (we’re looking at you Los Angeles), the trade market for him could wane significantly.
Much of the situation is still touch and go, but there's one thing the league source hinted at that is almost a total guarantee. After the Anthony Davis era is over in New Orleans, it is unlikely that Dell Demps remains the general manager of the team.