NBA RESTS ITS CASE
Pelicans must play Davis or risk getting fined
It’s easy to understand why the Pelicans and Anthony Davis’ agent, Rich Paul, were reluctant to play the star big man for the remainder of the season.
Knowing that Davis will be traded after the season — since the prudent yet besieged Pelicans opted not to make a move before Thursday’s trade deadline — it makes sense to eliminate the risk of injury and keep his trade value as high as possible.
But that’s not how the NBA plays the game.
The Pelicans have no choice but to play Davis on a regular basis the remainder of the season.
In his first game back since asking for a trade, Davis had 32 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in 25 minutes in a 122-117 win Friday against the Timberwolves. He did not play in the fourth quarter.
The NBA has fought back against the issue of resting healthy players, especially high-profile players such as Davis or LeBron James. It bothered fans, sponsors and TV partners and disrupted competitive integrity.
At the beginning of the season, NBA president of league operations Byron Spruell sent a memo to teams reminding them of the league’s player-resting policy, which was adapted and approved by owners at the start of the 201718 season.
For starters, the commissioner can fine teams $100,000 for resting healthy players in high-profile, nationally televised games. The league doesn’t want teams resting multiple healthy players in the same game and prefers teams rest healthy players at home.
The league also includes a catch-all rule that allows the commissioner to penalize teams for sitting healthy players.
“Any team that violates any of the foregoing provisions, or otherwise rests a healthy player in circumstances that are, in the opinion of the commissioner, prejudicial or detrimental to the NBA, shall be subject to a penalty under Article 35A(d) of the NBA constitution.”
That section of the NBA constitution allows the commissioner “to impose a fine not exceeding $1,000,000, or inflict both such suspension and fine upon any person who, in his opinion, shall have been guilty of conduct prejudicial or detrimental to the Association.”
The league did not have to twist arms, but a cordial reminder of league rules implored the Pelicans to make sure Davis is on the court. Maybe Pelicans general manager Dell Demps and vice president Mickey Loomis preferred to sit him. Maybe Paul did, too.
But the Pelicans understand the rules and the message.
“Anthony Davis will play the remainder of the 2018-19 season for the New Orleans Pelicans,” Demps said in a statement. “A number of factors contributed to this decision. Ultimately, Anthony made it clear to us that he wants to play and he gives our team the best opportunity to win games. Moreover, the Pelicans want to preserve the integrity of the game and align our organization with NBA policies. We believe Anthony playing upholds the values that are in the best interest of the NBA and its fans.”
Now, Davis is returning from a finger injury, and the Pelicans will be cautious with his playing time. No one wants to see Davis or any player hurt, especially with so much at stake in Davis’ future.
But there’s no way the Pelicans were going to get away with sitting him for the remainder of the season.
The Pelicans are in no position to absorb fines and bad press.