Davis awaiting next move with Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans officially closed out their 2018-19 season last night, falling to the Golden State Warriors 112-103. The season was a trying one for New Orleans, as it went from a playoff team to a lottery-bound one, all while dealing with the mid-season storyline of Anthony Davis’ trade request.

On Wednesday, Davis addressed local media in his exit interview. He remains under contract for the Pelicans, who are also searching for a new GM after firing Dell Demps roughly a week after the NBA trade deadline (when Davis was not moved). Davis told reporters that he’s not worried about who the next GM of the team is, but that he wants to speak with whomever that is about his trade request.

“I’m under contract still,” Davis said, per Nick Friedell of ESPN. “I have a year left. Obviously it’s a possibility it could happen. I don’t have ill will towards anybody. I know that it’s a possibility that next year I could be here as well. So I can’t be mad if I’m here next year.

I’m waiting to see the outcome. I’m curious to see who the Pelicans will appoint as their GM and looking forward to discussing the future with them. I’ve always had a wonderful time here and I truly love playing for this team. This experience will always hold a special place in my heart. However, the next move is for the Pelicans to fill the GM position.

Davis admitted that he might still be with the Pelicans in the upcoming season, considering he has a contract for 2019-20 and a player option for 2020-21. When questioned about the potential of playing for the Pelicans again if traded soon, he responded saying, “you never know what could happen later in your career”.

The possible conclusion of the Davis era in New Orleans appeared rather uneventfully. The unhappy six-time All-Star, who sat out his seventh consecutive game due to what the team described as back spasms, donned a T-shirt featuring the renowned Looney Tunes closing line, “That’s All Folks,” emblazoned across the front. After the game, while making his way down the tunnel towards the locker room, he exchanged a high-five with a fan.

Anthony Davis just arrived at the Smoothie King Center wearing a t-shirt that says “That’s all Folks!”

This is gonna be a fun night, guys. pic.twitter.com/vvJCsc4IIV

— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) April 9, 2019

Davis explained this morning why he chose to wear that shirt in what may have been his last game with the team.

“Davis said, “I didn’t choose it. In fact, it was already hanging for me when I got dressed.”

Davis responded with uncertainty when questioned if he knew who had hung it for him, saying, “No, I’m not sure.”

Anthony Davis says he has no control over his clothes. Someone lays clothes out for every game & he just puts them on. #pelicans pic.twitter.com/FtXnhBVY8b

— Julie Boudwin (@Julie_Boudwin) April 10, 2019

At the conclusion of the game, Alvin Gentry, the coach of the Pelicans, characterized Davis as “a great kid” who “received poor guidance.” Gentry’s comments were directed at Davis’ agent, Rich Paul, who is also LeBron James’ agent. Paul had engineered a public mid-season trade demand on Davis’ behalf, leading to a $50,000 fine for Davis.

“Gentry further added, “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with A.D. He’s a reliable guy with great character.”

News of the Pelicans beginning their search for a new GM circulated recently, with several names in the mix. Among them are Pelicans interim general manager Danny Ferry, former Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin, Golden State assistant GM Larry Harris, Brooklyn Nets assistant GM Trajan Langon, Houston Rockets assistant GM Gersson Rosas and interim Washington president of basketball operations Tommy Sheppard.

New Orleans’ next GM is expected to oversee a Davis trade — which could take place as early as this offseason — that has the potential to set the course of the franchise for years to come. That person also could decide the fate of Gentry, who has coached the team the last four seasons and oversaw the team’s run to the 2018 Western Conference semifinals.

Overall this season, Davis averaged 25.9 points, 12 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.4 blocks per game. He appeared in 56 games, a career-low, and saw downturns in his overall shooting (51.7 percent) and 3-point shooting (33.1 percent) from 2018-19. Following the Feb. 7 trade deadline, Davis never played more than 34 minutes in a game.

Davis was recently fined $15,000 by the NBA after he made an obscene gesture to a fan after a 115-109 home loss to the Charlotte Hornets on April 3.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.