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NBA Investigating Anthony Davis' Trade Request From Pelicans

The Pelicans have asked the NBA to strictly enforce tampering rules following Davis' requestNBAE/GETTY IMAGES

NBA Exec VP/Communications Mike Bass said that the league has "opened an investigation" into Pelicans C Anthony Davis’ trade request, according to Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY. Public trade requests are a "no-no, even if made by the player’s agent or representative." Late last month, following comments made by LeBron James "saying it would be incredible and amazing to play alongside Davis, the NBA sent a memo [to] teams reiterating the league’s anti-tampering policy." The league also "does not want individual players making sustained public recruiting pitches to players under contract with another team" (USA TODAY, 1/29). The Pelicans in a statement yesterday said that they "will honor" the trade request from Davis and his agent Rich Paul. The team said, "We will do this on our timeline. ... We have also requested the League to strictly enforce the tampering rules associated with this transaction" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 1/29). 

ANOTHER DOMINO: USA TODAY's Zillgitt wrote the NBA has a "trade request problem," as Davis is now "following in the footsteps" of other stars like Dwight Howard, Paul George, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler. The Pelicans "one way or another -- either through trade or free agency" -- will "lose one of the game’s premier players." Zillgitt: "It’s a blow to a franchise that needs a star player and needs to remain competitive to stay relevant in the market." Talk of the Pelicans relocating is also an "undercurrent from which the franchise can’t escape." The Pelicans currently "sell enough tickets," but "what if there’s no Davis?" (USATODAY.com, 1/28). ESPN's Mina Kimes said the Pelicans "might actually have to trade" Davis, which is a "testament to the amount of power that players and agents have in the NBA today because there's no real good reason why they should" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 1/28). FS1's Dahntay Jones said when top-tier players "have influence on where they're going to play and the circumstances around them," then teams "get better play, you get better camaraderie, better ownership and a better union between the organization and a player" ("Speak For Yourself," FS1, 1/28).

SMALLER MARKETS AT RISK? In Houston, Brian Smith noted Davis' plan to depart New Orleans is "just another punch in the face to the NBA's small-market teams, which can draft major stars but clearly can't keep them." Smith: "This is on the league and the players. And the agents and owners" (CHRON.com, 1/28). ESPN's Tony Reali asked if Davis' trade request is "good for the NBA." Reali: "It's always, 'I wanted to be traded to one of three teams,' and we know what the teams are. It's L.A., it's Boston, it's Golden State. ... How should any small-market team feel about this?" ESPN's Kimes said the request is "bad for small-market teams," but "good for the NBA because whatever super-team he forms is actually a viable candidate to compete with the Warriors" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 1/28).

GETTING OUT OF CONTROL: ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said the frustration among small-market teams, which has been "ongoing for a couple years now, is the idea that players who have multiple years left on their contracts are looking to get out of their situations." There is a feeling that teams in bigger markets are "recruiting these players and tampering well ahead of free agency." Wojnarowski: "It used to be maybe in the final year of the deal, now it's with two years left. When is it going to be three years left on a deal?" ("Get Up," ESPN, 1/29).

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