Bowen also assesses James Harden’s scoring streak and where the New York Knicks go after trading Kristaps Porzingis
Thursday 7 February 2019 13:59, UK
NBA TV analyst Bruce Bowen says the New Orleans Pelicans have a tough task ensuring they get full value when trading Anthony Davis.
Anthony Davis is a former No 1 [Draft] pick. He's so good. He creates so many opportunities for others and he makes a team better.
So [if you are the Pelicans], you can't take this [situation] lightly and make the first deal that is available.
The Lakers have offered two first-round picks, Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball as well as others in the mix. When you talk about what you get in return for a guy like Anthony Davis, you want to make sure you wait until the last moment to make sure you get [a return worthy of giving up] an All-Star player.
If you wait until July 1, you might be able to get [a package including] seasoned veterans, Jayson Tatum and Draft picks from the Boston Celtics.
Pelicans GM Dell Demps really has a tough task of [deciding] 'do I take the offer that is on the table now' [from the Lakers] or do I wait for 'curtain number three?'.
What [Harden] is doing right now is spectacular. But you worry if he can keep it going for the full season.
He has had to deal with [team-mates] being injured. What I like most is that he is taking on the challenge when others are down for his team to be that NBA star for his team not just because of all the accolades that come with it but because it is necessary right now.
The Knicks are $71m under the cap [for next season] so they can afford two stars now. I'm talking about Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant as well as Anthony Davis.
When you think of the New York area, everyone wants to play there it seems.
When you do play there, it's such a great atmosphere. I call it the 'mecca' of all basketball because of all the history that has been there.
I can definitely see this causing a stir! Kyrie [Irving] decided earlier in the season to call LeBron James to apologise for the way he acted when the two were team-mates in Cleveland. I'm wondering 'why choose now to say something like that?'
If Anthony Davis gets traded before the deadline and happens to go to the Lakers, I can see LeBron James selecting Kyrie [with the No 1 pick for the All-Star game] because he wants to see how things will fit [if all three were to play together for Los Angeles in future] and it's going to create an uproar.
All that just from LeBron James making one selection in a first-time televised picking of teams for the All-Star Game!
Watch Bruce Bowen break down the NBA every Tuesday afternoon on Sky Sports News.
