When Anthony Davis subbed in for the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night at the 9:49 mark of the second quarter of their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, it put a remarkable six former Kentucky Wildcats on the floor at the same time. The occasion was noted by their former coach, John Calipari in a post on Twitter soon after it happened.
Anthony Davis Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: F-C
Born: 03/11/93
Height: 6-10 / 2.08
Weight:220 lbs. / 99.8 kg.
Salary: $25,434,263
Born: 03/11/93
Height: 6-10 / 2.08
Weight:220 lbs. / 99.8 kg.
Salary: $25,434,263
There is little doubt the Celts will be ringing the Pelicans’ phone next summer to investigate what it might take to extradite Davis from the Crescent City. But, as noted here before, no deal can be made this season that joins Davis and Kyrie Irving because both are under Rose Rule maximum contracts, and teams are allowed just one each. Irving presumably will be on a new deal next offseason when he opts out and signs here for more money and years.
The other relevant fact in all this is if the Pelicans do entertain offers for Davis, who cannot opt out and become a free agent until the summer of 2020, the Celtics will have the most to offer in terms of quality players and quantity of first-round draft picks. League execs have speculated that Irving and Jayson Tatum might be the only untouchables — and even that could be negotiable for a star who won’t turn 26 until March.
The fact that he looked worn down from the Pelicans’ heavy schedule, coupled with the hip issue, only underscores just how talented he really is — which is precisely why the Celtics, and so many other teams around the NBA, are constantly surveying the situation in New Orleans to see if Davis will sign the supermax contract extension he will undoubtedly be offered next summer. If he doesn’t sign it, the Pelicans will have no choice but to trade him. If it comes to that, there will be no shortage of suitors, with Boston obviously among them. Davis, though, said he wasn’t thinking about any of that. “I heard it tonight,” the 25-year-old said when asked if he heard the local fans cheering for him during the game. “But I’m just focused on this team. I’m trying to do whatever I can to help this team get wins with the roster we have. It’s been a rocky season, so it’s on me to try to figure it out.
Down the hall later, Gentry acknowledged the rumor issue has been addressed with Davis. “I talked to him and told him that’s totally on him,” the coach said. “You know, he should do whatever he thinks is necessary, talk or not talk about it. But I told him we’re not covering any of it. I said all we’re going to worry about is our season this year and try to get it back to the playoffs. And then after that, I mean, it’s not a decision that any of us are going to have to make. It’s going to be him making the decision. That’s the way it is. “To me, it’s white noise. We’re going to play and do whatever we want to do, and when decision-making time comes, he’ll make a decision.”
