Sources: Davis would sign with ‘handful’ of teams

10:04 am | February 4, 2019 | Go to Source | Author:

2:52 PM ET

Adrian WojnarowskiESPN

The New Orleans Pelicans have been made aware of an extended list of teams beyond the Lakers and Knicks that All-Star center Anthony Davis would stay with long-term after a trade, league sources told ESPN.

One source with knowledge of the list called it a “handful” of teams.

The list doesn’t include the Boston Celtics, league sources said. The Celtics are unable to trade for Davis until July 1 as long as Kyrie Irving is on the team’s roster.

The Milwaukee Bucks are one of the teams on Davis’ new, extended list, league sources tell ESPN. Milwaukee hasn’t inquired about a Davis trade, sources say, and its roster composition does make the pathway to a trade extremely difficult.

This turn of events could be an opening to help spur the Pelicans to find a deal for Davis before Thursday’s trade deadline, league sources said. The Knicks don’t have the assets to make a trade for Davis now, and the Lakers and Pelicans have yet to gain traction in talks.

This appears to be an effort on the part of Davis and his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, to facilitate a deal before Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET deadline, and spare a prolonged stay into the offseason for Davis with the franchise.

Davis, who requested a trade a week ago, can’t become a free agent until July 2020. He informed the Pelicans that he wouldn’t sign a five-year, $239 million supermax contract.