Despite being expected to get a swarming amount of calls ahead of the trade deadline, New Orleans general manager Dell Demps is reportedly “not picking up his phone,” according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. The Pelicans are bound to trade their star player Anthony Davis and could do so before this trade deadline, despite letting teams know they would work under their own deadline, as recently as Monday.
The Los Angeles Lakers is the team that benefits the most from a time constriction, given that it allows them to rush the Pelicans into an immediate decision before the Boston Celtics can get in on the race on July 1, due to the “Rose Rule” that keeps him from having Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis on the same roster under the same contractual structure of 30 percent of the cap for each player.
The Lakers could offer a bundle of players, including point guard Lonzo Ball, forward Brandon Ingram, second-leading scorer Kyle Kuzma and center Ivica Zubac, along with draft pick compensation, but the Pelicans are reportedly willing to wait and are in no rush to trade Davis.
Waiting until July and allowing the Celtics to make their first bid for Davis could set up the ante for the rest of the NBA, no longer able to use time as a constraint and making this a battle of assets only — allowing only the highest bidder to wind up with the five-time All-Star big man.
Demps' resistance to entertain calls is likely a strategy to counteracts what agent Rich Paul started by making the trade public on Monday, likely hoping to give the Lakers a head start in negotiations. Though, it would be smart for the Pels front office to at least listen to offers, given that desperation could work out in favor of both parties, as the Lakers could offer something too tough for them to resist.
Follow Us
Subscribe