Davis remains in trade limbo; Barnes shipped to Sacramento
MIAMI – Anthony Davis is still a member of the New Orleans Pelicans. By 3 p.m. Thursday, that may change. Davis remained in place Wednesday, though the run-up to the NBA’s annual trade deadline picked up steam in plenty of other locales around the league – including Dallas, where Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes didn’t play in the fourth quarter of a win over Charlotte because of a trade with Sacramento.
“I got word of it during the game,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said.
Tobias Harris going to Philadelphia from the Los Angeles Clippers as the centerpiece of a six-person, four-draftpick swap was the first notable deal of Trade Deadline Eve.
Later, Chicago agreed to acquire Otto Porter Jr. from Washington for Jabari Parker and Bobby Portis. The Mavs and Kings agreed to swap Barnes for Zach Randolph and Justin Jackson, and as the day was winding down the Wizards struck again – this time sending Markieff Morris to New Orleans for Wesley Johnson.
The Wizards-Pelicans deal was confirmed to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity by people directly involved in the negotiations, all speaking on condition of anonymity pending the mandatory NBA trade calls to make the deals official.
“Part of the business,” New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry said.
And business, on Wednesday, was busy – as expected.
The Dallas-Sacramento deal is significant for both sides.
The Kings are trying to get into the Western Conference playoffs, and now can add Barnes to their promising young core. Barnes has a $25.1 million player option for next season. Meanwhile, Dallas – which got Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. from New York last week in a massive deal – will have salary-cap space to spend in the coming months as it looks to add more pieces around Luka Doncic.
“Things are going to look different on the court,” said Carlisle, who wished Barnes well and told him after Dallas’ game that he believes the Sacramento deal is a good situation for him.
Harris, Boban Marjanovic and Mike Scott went to the 76ers, while Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala and Landry Shamet went to the Clippers. Philadelphia – with an eye on moving way up from the No. 5 spot in the Eastern Conference – also gave up a protected 2020 first-round pick, a 2021 first-rounder that was once owned by Miami, and second-rounders in 2021 and 2023 through Detroit.
Porter will be headed to Chicago, with the Wizards taking back Parker and Portis. Parker has been bracing for a trade, and moving Porter is a financial win if nothing else for Washington. So is the move that sends Morris to the Pelicans, one that should get the Wizards out of having to pay anything in luxury tax this season.