Knicks wait for Anthony Davis demands as Mitchell Robinson speaks up - New York Post

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Knicks center Mitchell Robinson, a former Pelicans fan and graduate of Chalmette High School in suburban New Orleans, supports Anthony Davis’ latest maneuver.

Robinson and Davis share the same trainer, Marcell Scott, who has been living with the Knicks’ 20-year-old rookie in Westchester. Robinson and Davis have worked out together multiple times.

“I guess he’s doing what’s best for him,” Robinson told The Post. “He’s a very good player, I’d say he’s top-three player. Wherever he wants to play, he should be able to do it.”

Knicks brass would love to make New York Davis’ new home, but realize it is a long shot to get a deal done by Feb. 8’s deadline — which his agent, Rich Paul, has demanded.

According to a source, the Knicks still don’t know how the Pelicans want to proceed in a return package — whether they seek a long-term rebuild or inherit immediate assets.

The Knicks have a ton of future assets, such as Robinson and likely a 2019 top-five lottery pick. Robinson is showing he can be a shotblocking machine. In Monday’s loss in Charlotte, Robinson blocked three shots — and got tagged with two goaltending violations.

“The Pelicans have always liked Mitchell,” one NBA source said.

The Pelicans didn’t have a first-rounder in 2018 — only a 52nd pick. By then, the Knicks eagerly snatched the 7-1 Robinson at 36, delivered him a four-year contract with options, and Knicks coach David Fizdale has fallen in love.

“It would’ve been great,” Robinson said of being drafted by New Orleans and learning from Davis.

Robinson isn’t banking on Davis coming to New York.

“If he can, he can, if he can’t, he can’t,” Robinson said. “He’s helped me a lot. Before I got drafted, we used to work out together a lot of times. Sometimes I’d call Marcel and he’d be with AD in the gym and I’d go there.

“He told me to run the floor. He was always telling me just run the floor hard and play with good energy.”

If Davis is traded Feb. 7, it would be a blow to a New Orleans franchise that has struggled to find its foothold in football country. Robinson, a huge Saints fan, thinks his hometown team will be OK.

“They got other great players,” Robinson said. “One player can’t change a game. They should be straight.”

There were reports earlier this season Davis considered New York a potential destination to sign in 2020, but some wonder if that is true. If the Knicks package too many assets and deliver Kristaps Porzingis to New Orleans, they would leave the cupboard bare like they did in the Carmelo Anthony deadline deal in 2011.

“[Davis] wants to play for a championship,” one NBA executive said. “I don’t see how the Knicks gut their talent in a trade and then have the personnel to get him to re-sign long-term.”

One NBA talent evaluator said the Knicks’ only major assets are Porzingis and their draft picks.

“The only thing of value there to New Orleans is KP and more than one unprotected first-rounders,” he said.

The timing of Paul’s trade demand is to tilt LeBron James’ Lakers as overwhelming favorites to land Davis because the Celtics, and their trove of assets, are out of the mix until July 1 due to complex NBA rules. The Celtics can’t have two rookie-contract-extension players gained through a trade and already have Kyrie Irving.

ESPN is reporting Davis’ camp may soon tell New Orleans the Lakers would be the only team he would re-sign with long-term — a tactical strategy to snuff out competing offers such as the Knicks. Paul is James’ agent and trying to win him another title before he gets beyond 35.

Perhaps the Knicks could benefit in a Pelicans-Lakers trade. Lonzo Ball reportedly is miffed at the prospect of going to the Big Easy. The Pelicans could need a third team in a deal to inherit the former UCLA stud. The Knicks loved Ball in the draft, but he’s been a disappointment.

The other scenario is if Ball went to the Pelicans, they could look to trade their starting point guard, Elfrid Payton, whom Knicks GM Scott Perry still adores. Perry, who drafted Payton in Orlando, attempted to trade for him at last February’s deadline, as reported by The Post.

Meanwhile, Robinson’s activity the past three games has Fizdale flying as high as Robinson’s arms at the rim. Robinson scored 10 points, including a behind-the-back dunk on an alley-oop against the Hornets.

“Mitchell is starting to show serious impact,” Fizdale said. “The first thing D-Wade [Dwyane] said to me [Sunday after the game] when we hugged was, ‘Who is that?’ The same guy that blocked two of your jump shots blocked James Harden’s jumpers the other night. He has a chance to be pretty good.”

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