Anthony Davis’ latest comments could lead to Cavs trade in the offseason

Anthony Davis’ latest comments could lead to him being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer.

Appearing on ESPN’s The Jump, New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis was interviewed by co-host Rachel Nichols. In the midst of his one-on-one interview, he was asked by Nichols if hearing Paul Pierce’s comments on Kevin Garnett had an effect on his thought-process regarding his commitment to the Pelicans.

Quote transcribed by For The Win’s Steven Ruiz:

"“Yeah, when you hear that, it makes you think. Not gonna lie, it makes you think, because you’re wondering if you’re following in that same path. But then again, you’re like, oh, this year could be the year. You don’t know. So, you’ve just got to take it year-by-year and just see, see where the team is going, what direction they want to go to and just see where their head is.”"

For those that don’t remember, Pierce was quoted as saying that Garnett told him his only regret was not joining the Boston Celtics five seasons sooner. Garnett, a 15-time All-Star, was traded to the Boston Celtics in 2007 and won a championship with Pierce in his first season there (2007-2008). They would reach the NBA Finals again two seasons later but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games.

Garnett, one of the most dynamic power forwards in NBA history, was 31-years-old when he was traded the the Celtics and spent the first 12 years of his NBA career with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The furthest he ever made it in the postseason was the Western Conference Finals in the 2003-2004 season.

With his latest comments, Davis has put himself in a situation not too dissimilar from the one that led Paul George to be traded from the Indiana Pacers. George, who wasn’t willing to commit to a franchise that had proven itself incapable of defeating teams led by LeBron James in the NBA Finals, was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in large part because the franchise chose to get something for him before he walked in free agency and left without the team getting anything in return. He was also traded, quite frankly, because the Pacers felt as if he wasn’t fully invested in the franchise, win or lose.

Davis’ main priority as an NBA player is clear. He wants to win and compete for championships. The New Orleans Pelicans, who have shown marked improvement this season, don’t look like they’ll be that type of team.

That is, unless DeMarcus Cousins returns next season and proves that a torn Achilles doesn’t stop him from being the dominant force that was one-half of the NBA’s best big man duo. Without Cousins returning to form, they likely don’t have a chance of reaching the NBA Finals before Davis becomes a free agent in 2020.

Then again, the Pelicans may not choose to re-sign Cousins, who will be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, because of the severity of his injury. Achilles injuries, unlike ACL injuries, are still seen as career-killer type of injuries because of the impact has on a player’s mobility and explosiveness. A lot of players also tend to come back with a level of timidity after serious injuries and that can have as much of an effect on a player’s production post-injury as the changes to their body.

All that said, the Cleveland Cavaliers, possessors of a potential top-five pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, are in a perfect position to trade for Davis in the offseason. They’re armed with a pick that the Pelicans could use to select their next “face of the franchise” and have a number of pricey contracts they’d like to get off their hands. If the Pelicans wanted an established star in return for Davis, Kevin Love would be on the table before you could say “team meeting”.

For the Pelicans, it’s a Catch 22. They may want to wait and see what will become of their team before making such a pivotal decision regarding the face of their franchise but Cousins is the lone superstar they can sign in the offseason barring some salary cap maneuvers. With Cousins’ injury though, the Pelicans are in between a rock and a hard place when it comes to re-signing Love. To add, the longer the Pelicans wait to make a move, the lower Davis’ trade value becomes.

For one, teams don’t fancy giving up their best assets for a player who can leave the team in the near future. Davis will be an unrestricted free agent in 2021.

Furthermore, a potential injury to Davis (or a trade request from him) could lead to his market value being lower than it stands now.

It’s often said that the NBA is a business, first and foremost. The Pelicans best business decision could be trading Davis in the offseason if given an offer they simply can’t refuse.

The question is, will the Cavs be the team to make that offer?

They have the assets. They have a need for a defensive anchor. They have an open seat in their All-Star triumvirate after Kyrie Irving (and then Isaiah Thomas) were traded.

They just have to make a move.

Related Story: Michael Porter Jr. could be the best option in the draft

Davis, a six-year NBA veteran, is averaging 27.4 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. He’s shooting 54.1 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three-point range.