You'd think pretty much most teams in the league would make a run at putting a trade together considering the amount of time left on the contract. Its not everyday you can get a player like him in the door even if only for 1 years and the best bit is if you get him you'll get 18 months to convince him to stay.

The recent PG thing and the way the kwahi thing seems to be going in Toronto will only embolden teams to go all in.

Hard to see anyone putting together a trade deal better than Boston though, although Boston can't do it until the off season. I reckon he doesn't get traded by the deadline in the hope of a monster deal with the Celtics, or forcing other teams to put up big deals (whoever gets the #1 pick)

Will be interesting to see whether OKC are (meaningfully) interested.

It would probably mean putting Adams on the offer block - he is a helluva player, but OKC must salivate over the thought of PG, Westbrook and AD together.

You can't underestimate the power that the player has in this scenario nowadays - a team isn't going to take on an unhappy player who doesn't want to go there; and equally the Pels don't want to keep paying a guy who wants out/don't want him to walk next year, so the player almost retains control in where he wants to go.

In an ideal world, I'd love to see him get shipped to somewhere like Sacramento for guys out of Fox, Hield or Cauley-Stein - just so he'd have to end up in Sacramento with some scrubs. Would be funny.

I mean.. the worse-off players come out after this (after making trade demands), then the better. Hopefully discourages the behaviour.

As an aside, IMO teams (perhaps the Lakers) have undoubtedly breached tampering rules. In my opinion, you can't tell me Presidents and GM's like Magic, Pelinka and Lebron aren't having meetings and phone calls saying X and Y. How the hell is the NBA going to know? Even then, Lebron can have a "business discussion" with AD and classify it as mates catching up for dinner (As they probably did earlier this month when Pels were in LA)

I can & also can't see why AD would want to head to LA?

Lebron will start to slow and the last year or two of his deal might be poison on the Lakers Cap Sheet and as a league average 3pt shooter (at best) is that a winning situation in 12 months time?

Holiday said AD is "like 90 percent" the reason I stayed in New Orleans.

Per @ZachLowe_NBA: New Orleans made Nikola Mirotic, Julius Randle and E'Twaun Moore available for picks over the weekend.

The timing of Anthony Davis’ trade request caught Pelicans officials by surprise, but New Orleans officials have been preparing for this since the moment he signed with Rich Paul. They knew the writing was on the wall.

Agree Isaac. These small-market NBA teams suffer enough with smaller TV markets, smaller commercialisation, lack of interest from superstars in playing there etc.

Then on top of that, you add what is in my opinion the favouritism of the NBA towards bigger-market teams (due to the $ that can come from them vs. somewhere like N.O.) and it's an uphill, if not an impossible, task to genuinely compete.

People make alot of the big markets but in this decade which major market has won a chip? Only the Lakes back in 2010

The list of Champs is Spurs, GSW, Cavs, Dallas & Heat none of which are considered larger markets.

If the organisation is well run small market can compete and win...look at what OKC/Toronto are doing atm or what GSW have/are doing.

In the more connective world the major market isn;t as much a pull as having a stable and functional organisation probably is otherwise player would actual go to NY & LA

It's one of the big problems I have with agents being able to represent multiple players (especially multiple superstars).

Putting aside the conflict of interest angle, having the same agents allows this type of 'joining up' stuff to flourish - and personally I think its bad for the league.

Pel's will need Lakers to take back players or a third team to make it work as can only have 15 players on the roster at anytime!

Can't just waive and buy out half the roster!

Let's not forget the pels had 6 years to put a decent team around AD, they failed miserably. They should get a haul that allows them to rebuild, sell off veterans for picks and start again. I would love some presti magic, but can't see them having the assets to get close. Prying a serviceable player from the pels to aid their tank, now that he could do.

If Klay and AD go to LA, we could have three super teams competing for the West over the next couple of seasons

GSW minus Klay

Houston

LA

And how boring that would be.

"If Klay and AD go to LA, we could have three super teams competing for the West over the next couple of seasons

GSW minus Klay

Houston

LA

And how boring that would be"


No. I'd say a situation of 3 premier teams would be better than what we currently have.

At least if you have 3 'super-teams' (though I agree Houston aren't there yet - but maybe a 3 of LA, GSW and Celtics next year), you have 3 teams who can seemingly win the championship.

I don't think it's boring when these 3 teams who can legitimately win the title.

Right now, there is only one team who can win a title (GSW) and its not even close.

The NBA want you to believe that there is parity in the league - you see it in how they market the games etc. But the reality is GSW are streets ahead.

Current league is worse given there's 1 who can and will win.

Can't see Klay not getting offered the Max from GSW so he won't be in LA

AD could be another 18 Months away from the Lakers if they can't get a deal done so what does the picture with a 35/36 year old Lebron? Will he still be contributing at an All-Star level? Father time always wins so as a young guy having to carry LeBrons Max salary in 21/22 (remember the narrative if you don't win as the young star will get the blame!)

Agree that Klay leaving GSW would almost guarantee an improvement on the current situation

But that's not saying much

A comp with genuine parity is something like the AFL with 6 grand finalists in the past 3 years

Key detail from a Knick perspective in the latest story from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Anthony Davis: "Multiple league sources expect (Davis & his agent) to soon deliver word throughout the league that Davis' preferred destination is the Lakers & he'll become a rental player until 2020 with a trade anywhere else." If the Knicks aren't optimistic that Davis will sign a long-term contract with them, there's no reason to make a significant offer to New Orleans and potentially upset players on the current roster if that offer is reported in the media.

Pelicans forward Anthony Davis has been fined $50,000 by the NBA after his agent, Rich Paul, violated a rule prohibiting players or their representatives from making public trade demands.

And wait, how are GSW not a big market team and desirable destination? SF Bay area is 7 million people including some of the richest areas in the country. Long stretch from there to somewhere like Cleveland or OKC, Phoenix, Detroit, etc.

Agree Isaac. Same with Dallas.
Media Market Rankings 2018

1-2 New York Knicks / Brookyn Nets
3-4 Los Angeles Lakers / Los Angeles Clippers
5 Chicago Bulls
6 Toronto Raptors
7 Philadelphia 76ers
8 Dallas Mavericks
9 Washington Wizards
10 Houston Rockets
11 Golden State Warriors
12 Atlanta Hawks
13 Boston Celtics
14 Phoenix Suns
15 Detroit Pistons
16 Minnesota Timberwolves
17 Miami Heat
18 Denver Nuggets
19 Orlando Magic
20 Cleveland Cavaliers
21 Sacramento Kings
22 Portland Trailblazers
23 Charlotte Hornets
24 Indiana Pacers
25 Utah Jazz
26 San Antonio Spurs
27 Milwaukee Bucks
28 Oklahoma City Thunder
29 Memphis Grizzlies
30 New Orleans Pelicans

From a 2017 report. But different states have different state taxes etc, so your salary can go further in different states, plus this list doesn't reflect population I believe, as S.A is one of the higher populated areas.

I'm not sure the parameters of what actually constitutes a "big market"/"Small market" team. Or is it just a combination of all ?

"And wait, how are GSW not a big market team and desirable destination? SF Bay area is 7 million people including some of the richest areas in the country. Long stretch from there to somewhere like Cleveland or OKC, Phoenix, Detroit, etc."

Yes, and not to mention Silicon Valley and the nearby money there. GSW's homecourt is called Oracle Arena which shows you the tech $ behind the team.

San Francisco nearby is one of the most expensive cities to live in the world (like you have to be earning $150k USD a year to live there!)

When I referenced big/small market teams above I also wasn't just talking about the media market. I was talking about general money in the area, the desirability of living there (someone wants to live in Miami probably more than Milwaukee in the middle of winter), the 'glam' of the place (again Miami).

The other teams mentioned - Cleveland and SA - aren't big market teams, but they are an exception because 1 of them got lucky with drafting a local hometown player who might be the best ever. SA have remained good but that's because of a lot of groundwork that the team/Pop did over the early part of the century and smart draft picks (I mean their 2 best players for the 'dynasty' were internationals who not many others wanted).

Porzingis to Dallas is a big move frees up salary space for Knicks.

Apparently Lakers first offer for AD is Lonso, kuz, rondo, beasley and a first Rd pick.

So much strange in that...

Anthony Davis' representatives have informed the Pelicans that he would sign long-term with the Lakers, Knicks, Bucks and Clippers if he is traded, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA.

I know its very early in the piece (of an overall 4 year deal), but I can't help but think Lebron has dealt a severe blow to his career by going to the Lakers; I was going to say ruined his career by the move but thats a premature statement.

I mean he could have gone anywhere; teams would have moved anything and everything to get him.

And out of all the options, he chose a developing/re-building team with some pretty average talent as a 34 y.o. when he is stilling trying to win. Just didn't make sense, and now he is moving hell and high water to get AD because he can't accept the outcome of his decision.

I love Lebron but I think hes made a bad choice here; he's being good enough in the past to make it to Finals (so many consecutive finals), but I think his luck runs out this year.

P.s. good on the Pelicans for being stubborn. I love it. Don't trade a guy just because its the first presented. They know theyre going to miss the playoffs this season with AD anyway so I applaud the decision (if they go through with it) to wait and see what they can get in the off-season.

And another note; honestly IMO gone are the days where you can simply give up heaps of average to OK players just to get one superstar..teams know they need quality not quantity to win games these days. I suspect the Pelicans are waiting to see whether they can trade for another all-star or a better overall player than any of the 5-6 the Lakers are offering. Quality over quantity.

Moving to the Lakers had nothing to do with winning (otherwise he would've gone to a good team) and everything to do with endorsements and opportunities setting himself up after basketball.

btw the Lakers are offering eight players for Davis. They've offered New Orleans Lonzo Ball, Kuzma, Ingram, Rondo, Stephenson, Beasley and two 1st round picks for Davis & taking on Solomon Hill's contract.

https://nba.nbcsports.com/2019/02/04/lakers-offering-eight-players-for-anthony-davis/

"Moving to the Lakers had nothing to do with winning (otherwise he would've gone to a good team) and everything to do with endorsements and opportunities setting himself up after basketball. "

Yeah I know and you're band on - that's why I said it was bad from his career perspective.

I know its good for his endorsements etc - Im just stating that it was bad for his basketball career and I hold to that.

Lakers fans are starting to lose their shit.

Pelicans Twitter account just posted an hourglass, probably not the smartest move in the world. But fkn hilarious

Gonna be some very interesting reading over the next few days/weeks regardless of what happens.