Why would the Pelicans trade arguably the best big man in the game, who happens to be 23 years old? What could we possibly give them. They are a young, rebuilding team and have their cornerstone player that everyone else wishes they had. No amount of picks would land us Davis.
Were there any great reasons to trade Cousins, Griffin or Butler for there to be rumors?
Griffin in the last year of deal
Cousins team cancer
Butler rift with team/ management
Davis has like 3 or 4 years left on his contract, Superstars that young, with that much time left on their contracts don't get traded.
Those aren't great reasons because
Griffin is likely to be resigned
Cousins is liked by teammates and executives so not a cancer because he didn't get along with coaches.
Butler's rift was with players and management coddling certain guys. That doesn't scream trade that player.
Who are you to say Griffin is going to be resigned? Do you actually believe that a young guy with years on his contract is more likely to be moved than a player at the end of his deal and risk losing him for nothing like Durant?
The executives likes Cousin because he is talented, not because he is easy to get along with. At some point the management might feel he isnt worth the headache, hence the rumors.
Rifts with management is exactly what screams, trade that player.
You might feel otherwise, but these kinds of things, viable train of thought are what leads to rumors. Can you seriously give me a plausible reason why Anthony Davis is available?!