Anthony Davis' request for a trade eight days before the 2019 NBA trade deadline doesn't mean the New Orleans Pelicans are on the clock. In reality, the clock for Davis starts in the offseason. Because Davis is not on an expiring contract, there is no urgency for Pelicans general manager Dell Demps to take the best available offer now.
But while the Pelicans preach patience, what happens if the team receives an offer in the next week that trumps anything the Boston Celtics could put together on July 1, when Kyrie Irving's contract is no longer an obstacle? According to a report by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, New Orleans is aware of a list of teams Davis would remain with long term that includes the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks and LA Clippers.
Here is a look at what the potential suitors can offer in trade talks, who is likely off the table, the challenges each teams faces, the risks involved and what happens if Davis is not traded by the deadline.
The Pelicans' options and why patience is a must
Do you want to retool or have a full rebuild? That is the question the Pelicans' front office will ask when discussing a plan for Davis.
It will be crucial for New Orleans to create a team-by-team checklist showing the valuable draft picks, controllable contracts, players who would keep the Pelicans competitive and expiring deals.
Off the table: Jrue Holiday. The point guard could be the next domino to fall, but New Orleans should hold off on any potential talks until there is a resolution with Davis. Holiday is under contract through 2021-22 (player option) and would be high on the list of many teams if made available.
Draft assets
Own all future first-round picks (2019-2025)
Own all future second-round picks (Chicago can swap in 2021)
Cash to be sent out and received: $5.2 million
Draft rights to two players
Tradable contracts
1. Anthony Davis: $25.4 million; under contract through the 2020-21 season (has a player option)
15 percent trade bonus currently valued at $65,000. If Davis is traded in July, his trade bonus is $4.063 million.
Davis is not eligible to sign a $240 million supermax extension with his new team.
Six months after the trade, Davis would be eligible to sign a four-year, $145.6 million extension.
Davis could sign a new contract with the acquiring team in July 2020 for up to five years, $205.3 million. Signing with a team that has cap space would see Davis secure a four-year, $152.2 million contract.
Davis will have eight years of service when he is a free agent in 2020 and could go the short-term route like Kevin Durant did with the Warriors. In 2022, Davis would be eligible to sign a projected five-year, $253.8 million contract.
2. *Nikola Mirotic: $12.5 million; under contract through 2018-19
3. Solomon Hill: $12.3 million; under contract through 2019-20
4. E'Twaun Moore: $8.8 million; under contract through 2019-20
5. *Julius Randle: $8.6 million; under contract through 2019-20 (has a player option)
6. *Wesley Johnson: $6.1 million; under contract through 2018-19
7. *Elfrid Payton: $3 million; under contract through 2018-19
8. *Darius Miller: $2.2 million; under contract through 2018-19
9. *Ian Clark: $1.5 million; under contract through 2019-20 (has veto power on any trade)
10. Jahlil Okafor: $1.6 million; under contract through 2019-20
11. *Cheick Diallo: $1.5 million; under contract through 2018-19
12. *Tim Frazier: $1.5 million; under contract through 2018-19
13. Frank Jackson: $1.4 million; under contract through 2019-20
14. Kenrich Williams: $838,000; under contract through 2019-20
*Not eligible to be traded after Feb. 7
Complicating factors
Davis cannot be acquired by the Celtics or Timberwolves while Irving and Karl-Anthony Towns are on the respective rosters
New Orleans is $9.8 million below the luxury tax and hard cap.
Do the Lakers have enough?
Because the Los Angeles Lakers' roster features eight players selected in the first or second round of the draft since 2016, the Pelicans will look back on college scouting reports, pre-draft interviews and background reports, plus all of the on- and off-court evaluations since these players were drafted. Beside L.A.'s young core, the remaining players on the roster have more value as salary-cap filler since they are on expiring contracts.
To get a deal done, the Lakers' front office will need to make every player available except for LeBron James. Although the Lakers own all their first-round picks, acquiring Davis would devalue those in the next three seasons, when James and Davis would be paired up.
What the Lakers can offer at the trade deadline is the same package the Pelicans will see come this summer. The only exception is that the Lakers would have to acquire Davis with part of their available cap space, or they can elect to trade all their former first- and second-round picks to match salaries.
Off the table: LeBron James
Draft assets
Own all future first-round picks (2019-2025)
Own all their own second-round picks, except for 2019
Can send out $3.7 million in cash in a trade
Can receive up to $5.2 million in a trade
Have the draft rights to two players
Tradable contracts
1. *Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: $12 million; under contract through 2018-19 (has veto power on any trade)
15 percent trade bonus: currently valued at $732,000
2. *Rajon Rondo: $9 million; under contract through 2018-19
3. Lonzo Ball: $7.4 million; restricted free agent in 2021
4. Brandon Ingram: $5.8 million; restricted free agent in 2020 and extension-eligible in July
5. *Lance Stephenson: $4.4 million; under contract through 2018-19
6. *Michael Beasley: $3.5 million; under contract through 2018-19
7. Moritz Wagner: $1.7 million; restricted free agent in 2022
8. Kyle Kuzma: $1.7 million; restricted free agent in 2021
9. Josh Hart: $1.7 million; restricted free agent in 2021
10. *Ivica Zubac: $1.5 million; restricted free agent in 2019
11. *JaVale McGee: $1.5 million; under contract through 2018-19
12. *Tyson Chandler: $1.3 million; under contract through 2018-19
13. Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk: $1.5 million; restricted free agent in 2021
14. Isaac Bonga: $1.0 million; restricted free agent in 2021
*Not eligible to be traded after Feb. 7
Complicating factors
If there is no deal by the trade deadline, Los Angeles would be left with only seven tradable contracts (not including James') in the offseason. The Lakers project to have $36 million in room and could use the available cap space as a buffer to make a deal work. They could use their own free agents in a sign-and-trade, but that would require each player to sign off on any deal, and the Pelicans would have to take back salary for players they likely have little interest in.
The Lakers can add a third max player but would have to sign that free agent first and then acquire Davis in a trade this summer. In this scenario, the Lakers would have to wipe the slate clean and trade all their other players.
The maximum that the Lakers will have in cap space this summer is $31 million if Davis is acquired at the deadline, but would drop to $15 million if Solomon Hill is included in the trade. That number would decrease if Davis does not waive his trade bonus. Only James and Davis would be on the roster.
Should the Clippers start free agency five months early?
The Clippers have shown restraint when putting together their roster. Does that get tested when it comes to AD?
Because the Clippers project to have at least $36.6 million in cap space, taking back Davis and possibly Solomon Hill would either gut their roster or affect their spending in free agency. Any Davis deal from a New Orleans perspective would center around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. While not untouchable, it would be highly unlikely for the Clippers to part with their point guard of the future.
Draft assets
Cannot trade a first-round pick until two years after the protected 2019 first to Boston is conveyed (earliest would be 2021)
Own second-round picks in 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024 and 2025; also own the Trail Blazers' second in 2019. LA's 2022 second-rounder goes to Boston if a first-rounder is not conveyed in 2019 or 2020.
Can send out $3.9 million in cash and receive up to $5.2 million in any trade
Have the draft rights to one player
Tradable contracts
1. Danilo Gallinari: $21.6 million; under contract through 2019-20
2. *Tobias Harris: $14.8 million; under contract through 2018-19
3. *Marcin Gortat: $13.6 million; under contract through 2018-19
4. Avery Bradley: $12.0 million; under contract through 2019-20
Has $2 million guaranteed next season. Will become fully protected if not waived by July 3.
5. Lou Williams: $8.0 million; under contract through 2020-21
6. *Boban Marjanovic: $7.0 million; under contract through 2018-19
7. *Milos Teodosic: $6.3 million; restricted free agent in 2019
Has a 15 percent trade bonus valued at $352,000
8. Montrezl Harrell: $6.0 million; under contract through 2019-20
9. *Patrick Beverley: $5.0 million; under contract through 2018-19
10. *Mike Scott: $4.3 million; under contract through 2018-19.
11. *Luc Mbah a Moute: $4.3 million; under contract through 2018-19
12. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: $3.4 million; restricted free agent in 2022
13. Jerome Robinson: $3.0 million; restricted free agent in 2022
14. Sindarius Thornwell: $1.4 million; restricted free agent in 2020
Non-guaranteed contract for next season that becomes fully protected if not waived by July 20.
*Not eligible to be traded after Feb. 7
Complicating factors
Tyrone Wallace has veto power on any trade
The Clippers are $3.9 million below the tax and $10 million below the hard cap.
Inability to trade first-round pick until 2021 at the earliest.
Thanks for the invite: Milwaukee Bucks
While it is nice to be on Davis' list, Milwaukee does not have the right assets to make a deal.
As ESPN's Kevin Pelton outlined, aside from Giannis Antetokounmpo, the roster is comprised of expiring contracts that would hold little interest for the Pelicans.
Off the table: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Draft assets
Own second-round picks in 2020 (own and Washington), 2021 (Washington), 2022 (own) and 2023 (own)
Can send out $5.2 million and receive $3.2 million in any trade
Tradable contracts:
1. George Hill: $19 million; under contract through 2019-20
Contract cannot be aggregated until Feb. 7. Hill has $1 million in guaranteed salary for next season. The remaining portion becomes protected if not waived by July 1.
2. *Eric Bledsoe: $15.0 million; under contract through 2018-19
3. *Khris Middleton: $13.0 million; under contract through 2019-20 (player option)
4. Tony Snell: $10.6 million; under contract through 2021-22
5. Ersan Ilyasova: $7.0 million; under contract through 2020-21
6. *Jason Smith: $5.4 million; under contract through 2018-19
Contract cannot be aggregated until Feb. 7
7. *Brook Lopez: $3.4 million; under contract through 2018-19
8. Thon Maker: $2.8 million; restricted free agent in 2020-21
9. D.J. Wilson: $2.5 million; restricted free agent in 2021
10. Donte DiVincenzo: $2.5 million; restricted free agent in 2022
11. Pat Connaughton: $1.6 million; under contract through 2019-20
Contract for next season becomes fully guaranteed on July 1
12. *Malcolm Brogdon: $1.5 million; restricted free agent in 2019
13. Sterling Brown: $1.4 million; under contract through 2019-20
Contract for next season becomes fully guaranteed on July 1
14. *Christian Wood: $1.5 million; restricted free agent in 2019
*Not eligible to be traded after Feb. 7
Complicating factors
The Bucks are $5.2 million below the luxury tax and $10.5 million below the hard cap.
Milwaukee can't trade a first-round pick until 2024.
Waiting on the lottery: New York Knicks
Any potential Davis trade would not occur until after the draft lottery. There is no appeal from the Pelicans' perspective in acquiring the Knicks' 2019 first-rounder unless it is a sure bet to be a top-two pick.
Off the table: Wesley Matthews (cannot be aggregated), DeAndre Jordan (cannot be aggregated), Dennis Smith Jr. (cannot be aggregated) and Allonzo Trier (cannot be traded).
*Each of the three new players can be traded but not combined with other salary.
Draft assets
Own all future first-round picks (2019-2025), including a potential top-five pick in June
Owns an unprotected first in 2021 from Dallas (if the 2019 first to Atlanta is conveyed)
Owns a protected top-10 first in 2023, 2024 or 2025 from Dallas (depending on when the 2019 first from Dallas is conveyed)
Own the Rockets' second-rounder in 2019, the Hornets' second-round picks in 2020 and 2021, plus their own second-round picks starting in 2022
Cash to be sent out and received: $5.2 million
Draft rights to two players
Tradable contracts
1. *Enes Kanter: $18.6 million; under contract through 2018-19
2. Lance Thomas: $7.1 million; under contract through 2019-20
Contract for next season is non-guaranteed with $1 million in protection if not waived by June 30.
3. *Mario Hezonja; $6.5 million; under contract through 2018-19
4. *Emmanuel Mudiay: $4.3 million; restricted free agent in 2019
5. Frank Ntilikina: $4.2 million; restricted free agent in 2021
6. Kevin Knox: $3.7 million; restricted free agent in 2022
7. Luke Kornet: $1.6 million; restricted free agent in 2019 (has veto power on any trade)
8. *Noah Vonleh: $1.5 million; under contract through 2018-19
9. Mitchell Robinson: $1.5 million; under contract through 2021-22
10. Damyean Dotson: $1.4 million; restricted free agent in 2020
Contract for next season becomes fully guaranteed if not waived by July 15.
*Not eligible to be traded after Feb. 7
Complicating factors
New York is $1.5 million below the luxury tax and $7.6 million below the hard cap.
Celtics on the clock but not until July 1
A quirk in the collective bargaining agreement has the Celtics in a holding pattern until July 1. However, despite Boston not being eligible to acquire Davis at the trade deadline while Irving remains on the roster under his current contract, both sides can begin to negotiate the framework on a potential Davis deal now.
Starting the process and not waiting until the offseason gives New Orleans a baseline when comparing trade offers from other teams leading up the deadline. If New Orleans knows that an appealing trade package from Boston is within reach five months from now, the Pelicans should wait this out.
Despite the Celtics not being on Davis' initial list of preferred teams, they remain here based on their trove of young players and draft assets.
Off the table: Kyrie Irving (free agent), Marcus Morris (free agent), Terry Rozier (restricted free agent), Daniel Theis (restricted free agent), Brad Wanamaker (restricted free agent), Jabari Bird (personal reasons)
Draft assets
Own all future first-round picks (2019-2025)
Own Sacramento's 2019 first (Nos. 2-30)
Own Memphis' 2019 first (top-eight protected). Will roll over to 2020 (top-six protected) and 2021 (unprotected). This is the crown jewel of the Celtics' draft assets based on the uncertain futures of Mike Conley and Marc Gasol.
Own the Clippers' 2019 first (lottery protected). Will roll over to 2020 (lottery protected). If not conveyed, Boston will receive the Clippers' second-round pick in 2022.
Own all future second-round picks except 2019, which will convey to Memphis if it falls from Nos. 56-60
Cash to be sent out and received: $5.6 million
Tradable contracts (2019-20 season)
1. Gordon Hayward: $32.7 million; under contract through 2020-21
15 percent trade bonus: valued at $4.9 million in July
2. *Al Horford: $30.1 million; under contract through 2019-20
15 percent trade bonus: valued at $4.5 million in July
3. Marcus Smart: $12.5 million; under contract through 2021-22
4. Jayson Tatum: $7.8 million; restricted free agent in 2021
5. Jaylen Brown: $6.5 million; restricted free agent in 2020 (extension-eligible starting in July)
6. *Aron Baynes: $5.4 million; under contract through 2019-20
7. Guerschon Yabusele: $3.1 million; restricted free agent in 2021
8. Robert Williams: $1.9 million: restricted free agent in 2022
9. Semi Ojeleye: $1.6 million: restricted free agent in 2021
Contract becomes guaranteed if not waived by July 1
*Horford and Baynes have player options and cannot be traded until they opt into their contract for 2019-20.
Complicating factors
Making the money work with Rozier and Morris (free agents), and/or if Horford and Baynes opt out of their contracts. The Celtics would have only seven players to trade, including the $32.7 million contract of Hayward.