How far can the Warriors go? Golden State ran its win streak to 10 games over the weekend, and the West juggernaut is averaging a league-leading 129.1 points per game in January.
Throughout the regular season, our panel (ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz, Tim MacMahon and Andre' Snellings, The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears and FiveThirtyEight's Chris Herring) is ranking all 30 teams from top to bottom, taking stock of which teams are playing the best basketball now and which are looking most like title contenders.
Agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports has informed the New Orleans Pelicans that All-NBA forward Anthony Davis won't sign a contract extension and has requested a trade, Paul told ESPN on Monday morning.
"Anthony wants to be traded to a team that allows him a chance to win consistently and compete for a championship," Paul told ESPN. "Anthony wanted to be honest and clear with his intentions and that's the reason for informing them of this decision now. That's in the best interests of both Anthony's and the organization's future."
Davis is eligible to sign a five-year, $240 million supermax extension this summer. He can become a free agent in the summer of 2020. New Orleans has expressed no desire to trade him before the Feb. 7 trade deadline.
Davis' declaration on wanting out now gives teams other than the Boston Celticsa head start in pursuing trades for him. Boston cannot trade for Davis until July 1 because league rules wouldn't allow Kyrie Irving's and Davis' contracts under the designated rookie exception on the roster together. The designated rookie exception allows players coming off their rookie-scale contracts to earn 30 percent of the salary cap rather than 25 percent if they meet certain criteria.
Irving becomes a free agent on July 1. Boston could agree to a Davis trade before July 1 that isn't finalized until after that date.
This is an opportunity for the Los Angeles Lakers to be aggressive in offering a package for Davis before Boston's inclusion into talks. Paul also represents Lakers star LeBron James, and the Lakers have been determined to acquire Davis in a deal, league sources said.
Most NBA teams will check on the possibility of a Davis trade.
Davis, 25, who is averaging 29.3 points and 13.3 rebounds per game, is currently sidelined with a volar plate avulsion fracture of his left index finger.
BOSTON -- Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant is planning to travel to Oklahoma City for a March ceremony to retire the jersey of longtime Thunderteammate Nick Collison, Durant told ESPN.
"That group was so special, that whole group from 2010 until I left there, it was special," Durant told ESPN. "It's about time for us to let go of all that extra stuff, and just come together -- especially around this time, because it's Nick."
The Thunder are aware of Durant's plans to attend the ceremony and are glad to accommodate him, sources said. Scores of ex-Sonics and Thunder teammates from Collison's 15-year career are expected to be in Oklahoma City for the event. Durant has long credited Collison's leadership in easing his transition into the NBA when Durant arrived as the No. 2 pick in the 2008 draft. He spent a season with Collison in Seattle before the franchise relocated, and eight more together in OKC.
Durant's departure for the Warriors -- where he has won consecutive NBA titles -- was met with a harsh reaction in Oklahoma City, but time has passed and Durant emphasized to ESPN that he continues to hold the city, fans and organization in high esteem. Durant was part of four Western Conference finalist teams and an NBA Finals runner-up in 2012 in his nine seasons with the organization.
Durant will travel from the Warriors game on March 19 in Minneapolis to Oklahoma City for the March 20 event, he said. The Warriors are home against Indiana on March 21.
For those thinking that this could be Durant's way of starting a pathway back to the Thunder in free agency this summer, think again: There's no interest on either side for a reconciliation. Both Durant and the Thunder have moved on, with OKC reshaping a new contender around Russell Westbrook and Paul George.
For Durant and the Thunder, it appears to be a one-time return engagement that centers around something they both agree on: an appreciation of Collison's career with the franchise.
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