Odds Say Anthony Davis Remains a Pelican for 2019-20 Season

• The latest odds still have Anthony Davis staying in NOLA
• The Pelicans may gamble on losing the ‘Brow for nothing
• What’s the best bet to make here?

Before you know it, the New Orleans Pelicans will be right up against the edge, and how they handle the dealings with current superstar Anthony Davis is going to determine if they keep their footing, or fall cold off the basketball landscape.

That’s literally the stakes as Davis has this year and next before he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

If there’s anything to make you feel better, Pelicans faithful, it’s this: books haven’t wavered their projections, and think you’re going to have your all-everything mega-stud for at least the start of next season.

Where Will Anthony Davis Play Game 1 of 2019-20?

New Orleans Continues to Struggle in the West

What the Pelicans wouldn’t give to be in the playoff picture right now. Instead, they’re on the fringes, at 22-25 at press time, three games out of the eight spot, but with three other teams ahead of them in the queue.

They should be better: the Pelicans currently rank third in the NBA in scoring at 117.1 points a game – just one of three teams in the league scoring at that clip. They’re shooting 48.2% from the field, a mark eclipsed only by the Golden State Warriors.

8 of the Pelicans' next 13 games are against playoff teams.

If Davis' injury forces him to miss a full four weeks from today, he would miss all of those games.

The injury plague keeps killing New Orleans. https://t.co/aSl1sBIvSx

— Andrew Doak (@AndrewDoak_WWL) January 23, 2019

So what the hell gives? Part of it is their porous defense. They allow over 115 points a game, which is fifth-worse in the NBA. And part of it is injuries. Nikola Mirotic, E’Twaun Moore, and Elfrid Payton – all starters coming out of training camp – have missed significant time during the first half of this season, leaving an already talent-thin lineup even more depleted.

Anthony Davis doesn't plan to request trade, will evaluate future with Pelicans after season.https://t.co/xKCMi0j8ou

— Pelicans Nation (@PelsNationCP) January 23, 2019

With Davis now out at a week minimum with a finger injury, they could fade out of the picture before the All-Star game.

If Davis misses the playoffs, that would mark five times in seven years. It’s enough to make a guy want out, no?

What is the Best Bet to Make Here?

New Orleans has been adamant that they are not going to trade their franchise guy. Right now, it’s probably the logical choice, unless (or until) Davis lets them know he’s not going to sign with them next summer.

Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry was clear tonight on speculation on his star's future: "We’re not trading him. I can say that to the world. We’re not gonna trade him, no matter what. That’s not an option. It doesn’t matter what anybody says or does. We’re not trading Anthony Davis."

— Steve Aschburner (@AschNBA) December 20, 2018

If there’s one thing that we know about the NBA, is that it’s easily the fastest moving league in sports. One month, you’ve got a story on Kawhi Leonard’s MVP odds, a few weeks later James Harden rises from the ashes, obliterates scoring marks left and right, and holds the MVP pole position.

So while I do believe that the Pelicans are the safe bet here at +160, the Lakers appear ready to take a stab at him, showing little to no interest in making any other deals, so as to leave all assets on the table for the big fish. As mentioned before, the Celtics will likely swing for the fences when they are eligible in the summer too.

If I'm philly i try and jump into the anthony davis sweepstakes. They can have ben simmons https://t.co/mQhyRZFZsE

— Tone (@_CallmeTone) January 20, 2019

Looking for true value? Don’t overlook the Philly odds (+850). If the 76ers flame out this year in the East, there’s the potential of dealing star for star here with Ben Simmons. It might be the best deal the Pelicans can get in terms of value and saving their franchise.

And hey, file that twin tower combo of Joel Embiid and Davis under “God, Good”.