Anthony Davis' Pelicans Future Uncertain, NBA Expert Says, Lakers, Celtics Interested

Anthony Davis will have questions to answer before the end of the upcoming season with regard to his future with the New Orleans Pelicans, according to NBA expert Steve Smith.

The Pelicans center has two years remaining on his current contract and possesses a player option for the 2020-21 season, therefore the franchise have no concerns about the player walking out on the team any time in the near future.

But Smith is of the belief that the Pelicans could trade Davis if they are not in playoff contention by the time the February 7 trade deadline approaches in 2019. The center will not be short of suitors with the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and a number of other franchises said to be keeping an eye out for a potential trade.

The NBA expert also feels that Davis will begin to question if he is in the right place to challenge for titles. Former Celtics center Paul Pierce insisted recently that the five-time All-Star is certain to leave this season if his team do not make the playoffs.

“I think it goes down to his ownership and what direction they are going in,” Smith told NBA TV, as quoted by the Express. “I think if the Pelicans are out of the playoff race when the trade deadline comes then they will have to start listening.”

“The body language and also, I think it will be a great year for him, but if you’re not winning, ‘should I stay here?’. Who am I playing with? I think Jrue Holiday is fantastic, Julius Randle is fantastic but they are not [Rajon] Rondo [of Los Angeles Lakers] and also DeMarcus Cousins [from Golden State Warriors]. I think the New Orleans Pelicans, if you get the right offer, they might have to start looking at that,” the NBA pundit added.

However, his colleague on the panel Isiah Thomas had a different view on how the Pelicans should handle the situation. The former Detroit Pistons star believes they should hold on to Davis, who is one of the best players in the NBA at the moment, and hope he can attract other top players to join him in New Orleans.

Thomas is of the opinion that the Pelicans will not get proper value if they trade Davis as he is a unique player and among the top three at the moment. The questions, meanwhile, are likely to only be answered once the new season gets underway with the Davis-led Pelicans starting their campaign against the Houston Rockets on Oct. 18.

“I don’t know if there’s a right offer for Anthony Davis because he is such a unique player,” Thomas said. “We are talking about one of the top three players in the league.”

“You are not going to get the right value back so you are better off trying to keep him and seeing if it works out. Hopefully he can attract some players,” he said.