Davis has averaged 29.3 points and 13.3 rebounds per game this season, but has missed the past four games with a sprained left index finger while the Pelicans have fallen to 22-28 heading into Tuesday night's game at Houston.

New Orleans officials are prepared to play the long game on Davis' future, embarking on an uncomfortable, if not combative process that could extend months beyond next Thursday's trade deadline. Caldwell-Pope's addition is only necessary for salary-matching purposes, since New Orleans would have little need for an almost-26-year-old shooting guard.

Yesterday on NBA Now, we took a look at the latest Lakers rumors surrounding Anthony Davis and his possible destinations.

However, it has been reported that Ball is not interested in playing for the Pelicans and would prefer to be moved to a third team that doesn't have an established point guard. Ideally, the Pelicans and Lakers could find a large market team that Ball would be happy in where he'd be able to continue growing his brand and be the starting point guard of a team. Are they willing to risk waiting for the offseason and allowing the Boston Celtics to get into the mix? Well, it all depends on where New York's pick falls in the draft lottery, which is why New Orleans is most likely to wait until the summer to seriously deal with the Knicks. Despite the injury concerns Ball has carried in the National Basketball Association, he is a key part of what the Pelicans want in return for Davis.

The NBA trade deadline comes on February 7, and with it comes chaos.

The injured forward who may sit out the entire 2018-19 season has reportedly shown how disgruntled he is with Knicks management before - remember when he skipped out on an exit meeting two years ago with then-president Phil Jackson?

"They listened to what I had to say, and I think they get it", Ainge told 98.5 The Sports Hub's "Toucher and Rich" during his weekly radio appearance.

It will be tough for Irving to find a better situation than the one he has in Boston, and the star point guard already has vocalized his intention to re-sign with the Celtics at season's end. The team later acknowledged Davis had requested a trade over the weekend.