The New Orleans Pelicans will reportedly talk with league officials this week to receive clearance to bench Anthony Davis, according to Marc Stein of The New York Times.
The All-Star big man is still on the team after the Feb. 7 trade deadline, and the NBA informed the Pelicans they'll be fined $100,000 for every game a healthy Davis is benched, league sources told ESPN's Brian Windhorst earlier this month.
With the Pelicans' playoff hopes all but dashed, there's little to be gained by risking injury to Davis, a massive trade asset who has made it clear he wants to be dealt.
The Pelicans' front office has new leadership since the league's initial reported ruling on the matter. Longtime general manager Dell Demps was dismissed last week, with team consultant Danny Ferry replacing him on an interim basis.
There are recent examples of healthy players being benched without repercussion from the league. Carmelo Anthony made 10 appearances with the Houston Rockets this season before being traded, though he remained on the team's roster until the move to the Chicago Bulls was completed in January.
Similarly, the Memphis Grizzlies informed Chandler Parsons he wouldn't be activated, even after returning from injury in December. When the team couldn't find a trade partner for the highly paid and oft-injured veteran, Parsons was eventually invited to rejoin the Grizzlies.
