Think it's a shoo-in that the New Orleans Pelicans trade superstar big man Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers? Think again.

According to ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, San Antonio Spurs head coach spoke to Pelicans general manager Dell Demps this week, telling Demps not to give in to Davis or the Lakers:

“I've been told that one of the people that Dell Demps has communicated with is Gregg Popovich,” said Smith on ESPN First Take, via FOX 29 San Antonio. “Not for trade talks or anything but a guy like Gregg Popovich has said, ‘Don't cave to the Los Angeles Lakers.'”

Sound familiar?

Remember, over the summer, the Spurs were trying to find a trade for Kawhi Leonard. All indications were that San Antonio would eventually trade him to the Lakers, as Leonard wanted Los Angeles and the Lakers had young pieces like Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball to send back in a deal. But Popovich and the Spurs front office refused to deal with Los Angeles.

Ultimately, the Spurs ended up sending Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for DeMar DeRozan and other pieces.

Will the Pelicans try the same thing? Who knows, but the situation is eerily similar, as whomever trades for Davis runs the risk of him being a one-year rental, as he can (and almost certainly will) opt out of his contract after next season.

The Lakers are not the only team who can offer a good package in return for Davis, either. As a matter of fact, both the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks may be able to offer New Orleans something better.

Regardless, the Pelicans probably won't trade Davis until the summer, so get ready for months and months of speculation.