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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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NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 23: Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans drives against James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets during the first half of a game 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: Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans drives against James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets during the first half of a game 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) /

The Not So Good News

Holiday and his newly minted $125 million contract complicate matters quite a bit. He is the most expensive representation of the win-now M.O. the team has operated under for the last two offseasons. It will be nearly impossible to find a team with both cap space and need who is willing to take on the remainder of his contract, which will expire right when the Pels hope to be competitive again should they part with their franchise player.

With sweaty Omer Asik all but certain to pick up the player option on his contact, that means New Orleans will have almost $60 million tied up in Holiday, Hill, Asik, and E’Twaun Moore through the 2019-20 season. That’s a lot to pay for sunk costs.

It would be the necessary penalty for engaging in the business of a tank and a rebuild. That, plus the backlash of being the only team to trade away two no-doubt-about-it superstars about to enter their prime (Chris Paul being the other) in the last decade, may be enough to scare them off from any Davis deal.

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