New Orleans Pelicans between time general manager Danny Ferry met with disappointed star Anthony Davis this week and informed him the team would continue playing him yet planned to cut his minutes.
The Pelicans will also reduce the minutes of point guard Jrue Holiday, Ferry said Thursday. The team plans to give more minutes to young players as it focuses on the future.
“You will see a reduction in Anthony’s minutes,” Ferry told reporters in New Orleans. “You’ll probably see Jrue’s minutes come down because his minutes have been so high all year.”
The tentative plan is to play Davis 20-25 minutes a game, Ferry said. Davis is averaging 36 minutes per game this season. He’s played as many as 34 and as little as 15 — when he left early because of a shoulder injury — in games since returning to the lineup following his trade demand.
During the All-Star break, the Pelicans fired GM Dell Demps and replaced him with Ferry. After the change, there were discussions between Davis and the team about altering the plan for him to continue playing every game, sources said.
But Ferry said Thursday the Pelicans will continue to abide by league rules that require teams to not rest stars who are healthy. Not playing Davis when healthy would subject the Pelicans to fines of up to $100,000 per game under NBA rules.
“League rules made it clear Anthony has to play,” Ferry said. “As we’ve done previously, we will continue to follow their lead but also be focused on the future of the team.”
The Pelicans play at the Indiana Pacers on Friday.
