New Orleans - New Problème

After weeks of conjecture, gossip and the utter annoyance of all concerned, the French pocket of a larger continent has finally reached an impasse. A brief respite from the continual ticker of media noise from every news outlet surely. The French's position in leading the Brexit standoff and the deadlock between the Lakers and a certain French Quarter. Both have captured the imagination of the public, while grating on the last nerves of those professionals whose reputations rest on the outcomes.

Similarly both have reached the expected calm before the next storm. For the French a matter of weeks before the merciful end of Brexit and for New Orleans, a matter of months before the long overdue end to Anthony Davis' tenure as a Pelican.

Boxed in on all sides, it seems the team's ownership, management and coaches have been dealt their hand and the league expects them to play it. Regardless of their opposition’s cards and the actual outcome that’s good for the franchise, Coach Gentry has to play Anthony Davis.

Failure to do so under the NBA’s rest rule, brought in during 2007 will result in a $100,000 fine for each game AD doesn’t suit up while healthy. Some have floated the idea of a minimum 25 minutes a game is the requirement to dodge racking up over $2,000,000 of fines on ownership by season’s end.

A tough spot for a new owner with both eyes on the city’s prize across the parking lot, the NFL’s Saints. A tough spot for a General Manager who now has to live with his widely hailed decision to resist the Lakers’ offer until the summer which will bring a host of others to the table. A tougher spot still for a Coach expected to battle for lottery position in order to kick start the inevitable rebuilding process even with a top five player back at his mandated disposal.

Surely no way out of such a ironclad grip that the seemingly big state league office has decreed to be so. Or is there? Granted, back to back games have already been ‘negotiated’ out of contention between player and team. So there’s some headway in the Pelicans’ Brexit like quandary. But given Davis totted up 32 points and 9 rebounds in his first game back during those 25 minutes, his glorious efficiency and on court impact may be too much to undercome.

But unlike Prime Minister May, the New Orleans coaching staff can still use their remaining wriggle room before hitting a backstop. Here’s some of the more creative measures available to ensure the losses pile up and the fines stay down:

The Full 25:

Option one is the riskiest of all, given the tightrope all concerned are walking with an oft injured all star. But playing Davis for the entirety of the first two quarters and the first minute of the second half, would certainly dull his batteries and limit his second quarter impact. Alternatively, playing the final 25 minutes is also an option of intrigue, however with games decided down the stretch, it’s no place for one of the game’s best.

The problem being, such a workload without the customary break to recharge, could and likely would do damage to their trade asset. Making an already high wire act, one without the safety net that management requires. A balancing act indeed between a healthy AD to trade come May 15th and pawning off damaged goods, well below their market value established only months before.

The Opposite Approach:

Bear with us here. The opposite of AD is DA. The only DA in the NBA is Deandre Ayton. Despite his short time in the league, Ayton is often hidden on defense due to his distinct lack of attention and effort on that end. Therefore, the opposite approach could be taken with AD. Assign him to the best player on the opposition, regardless of position.

Playing Houston? AD, you got Harden. The Warriors in town? Anthony, Steph is yours. Philly up next? Embiid is the assignment for Davis. Wait… that’ll never work. As much as putting AD on Joel would encourage the necessary foul problems, it’s likely to come with an increased risk of physical damage. But inexcusable for AD to not be matched up with a softer KAT in his return to the court. Regardless, you can’t play 25 minutes if you foul out in 12. Or as a fellow staff member in the office put it, oh so eloquently:

"At the half James Harden has twelve points on 0/7 shooting, 12/12 from the line. Anthony Davis has fouled out with seven blocks."

The Buckets Effect:

In a season of want away starlets, Jimmy Butler talked his way into a practice and out of town in Minnesota. It’s that practice philosophy that could be an option for Coach Gentry to employ here to minimize AD’s impact on the outcome of games. Jimmy infamously stormed into practice after a long self imposed layoff and armed with four other non rotation warm bodies, proceeded to torch the Timberwolves starters.

Given the quality of NBA opposition is often higher than those from the Great Lakes, one could expect that if Gentry played AD the final 25 minutes of each game and specifically with the end of benchers, his impact may well be diminished compared to sharing the court with the likes of Holiday and Randle.

The Positional Possibility:

“And now the starting lineup for YOUR New Orleans Pelicaaaaaaans. A 6’10”, 253 lbs Point Guard from Kentucky, Anthonyyyyyyyyyyyy Davisssssssssssssssss!”

That’s right, nullify AD’s impact by blatantly playing him out of position which on certain nights would double down on his matchups with the likes of Curry and Westbrook from the proposal previously. He's got high school experience at that position after all.

The ability to bat back questions about the unsuitability of such a tactical switch with a simple, “increasing his trade value by showing his versatility” would almost certainly keep the association’s book keeper’s fines at bay while the lottery odds stack up.

Despite the obvious hilarity of each of these improbable scenarios, the “soap opera” that is today’s NBA sometimes needs to lean into its own press. Unlike Steve Kerr, his former assistant is in quite the pickle and has doubtless the least desirable position of the top 30 coaching gigs in the world. Win in games and lose out in the onrushing rebuild. Lose games by tampering with your lineup and incite the wrath of the league office.

The irony amidst all of this is the league’s position of flux between a genuine elite league with the world’s best on court product and something the press and fans need it to be closer aligned to the WWE. The biggest question and most fascinating move won’t be emanating from the Big Easy, but rather from the Little Island of Manhattan at the NBA HQ.

How the league juggles the issues of tampering, press involvement, its impact on players of both teams, resting, market size and the ever changing desires of its multifaceted fan base, most of which clamor for different points of interest to each other, will be something every major league will be watching closely. Something better than soap operas or sports entertainment, that will be a spring and summer of drama worth tuning into.