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New Orleans Pelicans: Examining the trade market for Anthony Davis

By Jonathan Macri

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 23: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts during a game against Houston Rockets at the Smoothie King Center on February 23, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 23: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts during a game against Houston Rockets at the Smoothie King Center on February 23, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 11: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans watches on against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on March 11, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 11: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans watches on against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on March 11, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Should New Orleans move on from Davis?

If the Pelicans shoot out of the gate hot and somehow make this thing work, there is no “Anthony Davis trade value” discussion. Their owner craves a taste of the playoffs, and if they’re in the thick of it, Davis will stay in the Big Easy through at least February of 2019.

The consensus is that this won’t be the case. The Pelicans are projected to finish around .500 and in the bottom third of the West. Lowe, as knowledgeable as anyone, has already indicated he’s leaning towards picking them to miss the playoffs. The Solomon Hill injury only hurts.

If New Orleans does decide to pivot towards a rebuild, the good news is that they own all of their draft picks moving forward. If they trade Davis for a combination of picks and young players and let Cousins walk next summer (or trade him at the deadline, should this season really spiral out of control), it will be easy to bottom out in the West.

Even with Holiday on the roster, the Lakers, Suns, and Kings are all likely to improve in the coming years. It’s not hard to envision a stripped-down Pelicans squad ending up with a top three pick in 2019.

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