New Orleans Pelicans: Pros and cons of keeping Anthony Davis until the off-season

 The New Orleans Pelicans are in a compromising position as they decide what to do with Anthony Davis. Will they deal him by the deadline or wait until the off-season?

Since Anthony Davis‘ public trade demand, the New Orleans Pelicans face a challenge between the trade deadline and this off-season.

Anthony Davis is currently averaging a career-high in points (29.3 ppg), rebounds (13.3 rpg), assists (4.4 apg), steals (1.7 spg), and minutes per game (37 mpg).

Although Davis’ contract doesn’t end until 2021, he can easily land on an undesirable team as a one-year rental and sign elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent.

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Gayle Benson and the Pelicans’ management have a tough choice to make as they deal with the superstar demanding a trade right before the trade deadline on February 7th.

Here are the pros and cons of waiting until the offseason to trade Anthony Davis:

Pros

1. The Pelicans can wait until the offseason to bargain with the Boston Celtics‘ plethora of assets (only if Kyrie Irving opts out or is traded).
2. The Pelicans management can field more offers and take their time for the right trade.
3. Wait and see what team owns the No. 1 draft pick in hopes of trading for Zion Williamson if he declares for the NBA Draft.

Cons

1. Lose all chances of trading for the No. 1 draft pick in a trade during the off-season.
2. Missing a chance of acquiring a top-10 pick if Davis is dealt (predicting the Pels’ record falls drastically).
3.  Other teams (whom Davis has no desire playing for) offering poor trades knowing Davis won’t stay after one year.

Conclusion

Rumors have circulated that Davis prefers to join LeBron James in Los Angeles.

Aside from the Lakers, the Boston Celtics may be a desirable destination for Davis as well.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics would have to offer their young core in order to have any chance of acquiring Davis.

Rich Paul and Davis did seem to purposely force the Pelicans’ hand into trading him before the trade deadline through their public trade demand.

Unless the Pelicans are offered a deal they simply cannot refuse, they will remain patient and hold out until the offseason to make the correct deal for the future.

The Pelicans will show the basketball world their decision by the trade deadline on February 7th.