Would New Orleans consider dealing Davis for the #1 pick?

[crimson_stallion]

I know this sounds a bit crazy, but hear me out.

The Pelicans just acquired Demarcus Cousins and lets be honest - they didn't give up a whole lot to get him.  Hield will probably be a nice player, Tyreke they wanted to cut anyway - the deal was highway robbery.

They Cousins and Davis played a half season together, and they seemed to struggle to gel.  Two dominant scoring bigs who both need the ball to be at their best - hasn't really worked out yet. 

Now Davis has had his injury problems, Cousins has his personality concerns - both have their individual red flags.   Does it make more sense to New Orleans to give up on this frontcourt, and trade one of those bigs for a future star PG?

Imagine a duo of Fultz/Davis or Fultz/Cousins moving forward?  You couldn't ask for a better young core to build around.

We have plenty of depth at guard and we're desperate for starting big at either position (since Horford can happily play either PF or C). 

If we can give up Fultz for Anthony Davis, we immediately become a contender.  If we give up Fultz for Cousins, we immediately become a contender.

I've never truly believed we had a real shot at getting one of those guys, but now that's changed.  We may have a legit shot at Davis here, or at the very least Cousins.  These are the two best big men in the NBA right now - both 26 PPG / 12 RPG guys, and both young enough to build a franchise around.

I'd hate to trade a #1 after finally getting one, but if the Pelicans were to offer Davis or Cousins - man it would be hard to say no.  There have been guys before who have been touted as surefire stars who didn't work out - Wiggins is one such example.  Massively hyped for years and a nice player, but not a franchise player. 

[Phantom255x]

I think we have a better chance at Cousins than Davis to be honest.

BUT, if Pelicans start off BAD next season, it's a legit possibility at the deadline Davis gets traded or at least they hear offers on him.

But honestly I think Davis is 110% untouchable at least this summer.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Davis is the only person I would trade the #1 (Fultz) for. Without knowing anything about their FO, I'd assume they're competent enough to say no.

[Csfan1984]

If Pelicans can't sure up their FAs they may sell on Cousins then Davis for Fultz and Nets 2018 would be a good deal for them. But they shipped out Buddy for Cousins so don't think they want to rebuild.

[Neurotic Guy]

Yesterday, Davis was an impossibility.  Today, I think C's can put together an offer that doesn't get an immediate hang-up.  But eventually, I doubt they would let Davis go. 

[Roy H.]

Just a random guess, but I don't think Danny is giving up the #1 for Cousins.

NOP isn't trading Davis.

[mctyson]

They would consider this #1, and next years BK, and 2019 Memphis, and Jaylen Brown.

[crimson_stallion]

I think we have a better chance at Cousins than Davis to be honest.

BUT, if Pelicans start off BAD next season, it's a legit possibility at the deadline Davis gets traded or at least they hear offers on him.

But honestly I think Davis is 110% untouchable at least this summer.

I would think that too, but at the same time the Pelicans have had Davis for 5 years now and lets be honest - as great as he's been individually, they've gotten nowhere.   

He's missed an average of 16 games per season, and from memory he's already had two season ending injuries.  If you are the Pelicans, at what point do you draw the line and decide it's time to try something else?

Now they have Cousins, and as much as he's troublesome personality wise, he's been pretty healthy throughout his career and has put up consistently big numbers year by year - is he a more dependable option to build around then Davis?

There are other guys I'd consider trading the pick for too, but not many.  David would definitely be my #1 option given both his ability and our needs as a team.

[Phantom255x]

Just a random guess, but I don't think Danny is giving up the #1 for Cousins.

NOP isn't trading Davis.

Yeah, no way he does.

[BitterJim]

No. They'll see how Davis and Cousins play together for a full season before they even consider trading Davis

[max215]

I strongly doubt they would. Firstly, I expect Markelle to be a superstar, but that doesn't equal the certainty of Davis, who is a superstar. Additionally, they need to convince Cousins to stay next offseason, and Davis will contribute much more to winning in 2017-18 than Markelle will.

[jpotter33]

Man, if they said they'd give us Davis for both Brooklyn picks and something like Rozier and Yab, I think I'd have to do it. You just can't pass up on a MVP-level guy like Davis.

Not sure I'd add any more than that, though.

[liam]

Doesn't Davis have like 3 more years on his giant contract. They won't trade him until the last year.

[Eja117]

If we call them and say "Hey would you like to trade Anthony Davis for Fultz?" there will be a long awkward pause and then they say "we thought you were going to add the word 'and' and then follow that with something else" and then they hang up.

If we call them and say "Hey would you like to trade Anthony Davis for Fultz and...." and the next words are something like "Jaylen Brown" or "The Nets 2018 pick" then they say "We'll think about it a little and maybe get back to you" and hang up and then realistically they don't get back to us.

If we add Marcus Smart to the list they get back to us and maybe start haggling within 48 hours.

That's how that would work.

[Monkhouse]

If we call them and say "Hey would you like to trade Anthony Davis for Fultz?" there will be a long awkward pause and then they say "we thought you were going to add the word 'and' and then follow that with something else" and then they hang up.

If we call them and say "Hey would you like to trade Anthony Davis for Fultz and...." and the next words are something like "Jaylen Brown" or "The Nets 2018 pick" then they say "We'll think about it a little and maybe get back to you" and hang up and then realistically they don't get back to us.

If we add Marcus Smart to the list they get back to us and maybe start haggling within 48 hours.

That's how that would work.

I would definitely give them Fultz and Smart for Anthony Davis, if that's what you're suggesting my good friend. Hah.