The New Orleans Pelicans knew the Anthony Davis situation would be complicated to say the least once the clock struck 3:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on February 8th. The trade deadline would have come and gone, but AD would still have been on the roster. With 25+ games still remaining in the season, conventional wisdom might have suggested the Pelicans shut AD down the rest of the season to protect him from injury. Enter the NBA.
Reportedly, the NBA would subject the Pelicans to a fine of 100K per game that a healthy Davis would sit out.