It is February 1st, the NBA trade deadline is less than a week away, and the games are just beginning. The Pelicans are taking and making plenty of phone calls, which normally signals urgency, but in this case, there is no rush. For some, like the Lakers, February 7th is the finish line, but for the Pelicans it is an almost inconsequential and arbitrary line that means nothing to them in their quest to fetch the best package for Anthony Davis.
Instead, the date May 14th holds much more importance. That is the date of the NBA’s draft lottery, and how the Knicks, Grizzlies, Kings, and even the Pelicans themselves, fair that night will play a far bigger part in determining what jersey Anthony Davis wears next season.