Monday morning, Woj announced that Anthony Davis has informed the Pelicans that he has no intention of signing a contract extension - he’s eligible for a 5-year, $240mm deal this summer - and has requested that they trade him, instead.
Davis wants to compete, and he feels like that’s not going to happen in New Orleans.
Davis could sign a 5-year, $240M contract extension this summer, and can become a free agent in the summer of 2020. https://t.co/Tl7zy7e9UE
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 28, 2019
The Celtics, of course, as expected to be players in a deal for Davis, given the young assets and draft picks they have, but there’s one catch:
Anthony Davis requesting a trade, as @wojespn has reported, gives teams other than Boston a chance to get involved before the trade deadline while Boston can’t because it already traded for Kyrie Irving while on a Rose rule deal. Celtics arguably can offer the best deal for him.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) January 28, 2019
That means any deal for Davis from the Celtics can’t happen until July 1st. Does Davis want to wait that long?
Other teams expected to be players in any trade offer are the Los Angeles Lakers, of course, the Chicago Bulls, the New York Knicks, and, yes, well, the Brooklyn Nets?
According to Woj, both New York teams think they have a legitimate shot at getting Davis to re-sign with them - if traded for - which is half the battle. The last thing they’d want to do is trade for a 1.5-year rental, considering all the assets that they’d have to part with.
“Teams in New York believe that.” @wojespn on other teams’ belief that Anthony Davis could sign an extension with other teams outside of the Lakers.
— Christopher Lavinio (@ChrisLavinio) January 28, 2019
Woj didn’t just mention the Knicks, but both teams in New York.
Again, it seems likely, today, that the Lakers are in the driver’s seat along with the Celtics - depending how patient Davis AND the Peilcans want to be in this situation. But, other teams do seem to be in play.
So, we ask, Nets fans:
Where do y’all think AD going?
— Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) January 28, 2019
- Why Anthony Davis might not be best move for Nets - Brian Lewis - New York Post