Sources: NBA cited rest rule in talks with Pelicans
After reviewing the rules and some consideration, the league office informed the Pelicans that they would be expected to play Davis starting with Friday's nationally-televised game against the
Minnesota Timberwolves, sources said.
The league referred the Pelicans to rules put in place in 2017 that restrict teams from resting healthy players. The Pelicans, league sources said, were told they would be subject to a fine of $100,000 per game if Davis was benched.
Davis himself was fined $50,000 last week for breaking league rules when Paul publicly made a trade demand, the largest fine permitted.
After the trade deadline passed with Davis remaining on the team, the Pelicans requested a meeting with Davis to discuss the rest of the season. In that meeting Davis told the Pelicans he wanted to return to the floor - he'd recently missed three weeks with a finger injury -- and play in as many games as possible
