KNICKS ARE IN PLAY
Davis confirms New York is among his top landing spots
CHARLOTTE — Anthony Davis still wants out of New Orleans. That much is clear. But as his leverage slips with the passage of time, Anthony sounds like he’s confused on how to approach his public trade request.
In one candid interview Saturday, Davis confirmed he had a list of preferred destinations – one that included at least the Knicks, Lakers, Bucks and, most surprisingly, the Celtics.
Minutes later, he told NBATV that there is no list and he’s open to joining every team except the Pelicans.
“You want to take control of your career,” Davis said. “Because you’re the one who is playing. That’s what I tried to do.”
Davis tried and failed to get traded by the deadline, an initiative spearheaded by his agent Rich Paul. But now he remains under contractual control by the Pelicans through 2020, and has a stated goal of joining a winner.
“Big market, small market - it doesn’t matter. I’m focused on winning on this point of my career and wherever that may be,” Davis said. “It can be a big market or small market. I just want to win.”
So then why prefer the Knicks, a team with one of the NBA’s worst records this season and also of the last 20 years?
“It’s a great franchise. Playing in obviously the Garden, the city,” he said. “But obviously Milwaukee (a small market team) is on that list, too.”
The summer will open up a huge bidding war for Davis, with teams undoubtedly ready to join the fray even without a guarantee the forward will sign long term as a free agent in 2020.
The Knicks, Lakers, Clippers and Celtics are the obvious candidates for a Davis trade. The Lakers are the most desperate (LeBron’s clock is ticking), the Celtics have the best prospects (like Jayson Tatum), and the Knicks could the most appealing draft picks (depending on where their 2019 pick lands in the lottery). The Clippers, Nets and Bulls are the wild cards of the wild summer of 2019.
It was reported that Davis was uninterested in joining the Celtics but he refuted that Saturday. “They are on my list,” he said. The Knicks also have enough cap space to sign a max free agent if they trade for Davis, with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving as the top targets. The downside of trading for Davis is it will cost their trove of draft picks. If, for instance, the Knicks win the draft lottery, would they deal Zion Williamson for Davis?
“They have a nice little team,” Davis said. “But I’m still with the Pelicans, I’m still representing the Pelicans. I don’t go out and look at teams like, ‘Oh, how can I fit here? How can I fit there?’ When that time comes, that time comes. So I just have to finish these last 20-something games in New Orleans and see how it goes from there.”
Davis was drafted by the Pelicans in 2012 and developed into an All-NBA player without much winning or exposure. His star power never matched his talent in New Orleans.
On Friday, the Pelicans announced they fired GM Dell Demps and replaced him in the interim with Danny Ferry. Davis said that did not alter his trade request. “Obviously the Pelicans have to do what’s best for them. My intentions are still the same no matter who the GM is. My intentions are the same.”
Davis said he is emboldened to control his destiny, following the examples of LeBron and others who’ve flexed their power.
“I just keep it real to be honest,” Davis said. “I knew that’s what you guys wanted to talk about. So I just say how I feel, state my intentions and that’s it.”