Anthony Davis requests trade from Pelicans
Anthony Davis, star of the New Orleans Pelicans, has the option to become a free agent next summer and could be one of the most sought-after names on the market. However, his agent, Rich Paul, has conveyed to the team that Davis desires to leave sooner.
As first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Paul says Davis has requested a trade from the team. In addition, Paul informed the Pelicans that Davis has no intention of signing a long-term contract extension if and when one is offered.
In a statement to ESPN on Monday afternoon, the Pelicans confirmed the report, stating that Anthony Davis’ representatives have informed them that Davis does not want to sign a contract extension with the team and has thus requested a trade.
Despite our disappointment in the recent decision, our organization’s ultimate goal is to secure an NBA championship for our city. Regarding the specific trade discussions, we will proceed at a pace that suits our team. We won’t be influenced by external factors or individuals outside our organization.
https://twitter.com/PelicansNBA/status/1090004873100312576
This summer, Davis has the option to sign a super max extension for 5 years, worth $240 million. He also has the opportunity to become a free agent in the summer of 2020.
“Anthony wants to be traded to a team that allows him the chance to win consistently and compete for a championship,” Paul told Wojnarowski.
Regarding the timing of the trade request, Paul informed Wojnarowski, “Anthony wanted to be transparent about his intentions, which is why he chose to inform them of his decision at this time. He believes this is in the best interest of both his and the organization’s future.”
Shams Charania of The Athletic also reports Davis has had conversations with his teammates prior to this decision. Additionally, The New York Times‘ Marc Stein reports Paul has not given the Pelicans a preferred trade destination for Davis.
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1089859367590158342
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1089859367590158342
Rich Paul, agent for All-Star Anthony Davis, informed the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday that Davis has no intention of signing a contract extension and has asked for a trade. According to Paul, Davis discussed this decision with his teammates beforehand.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 28, 2019
Anthony Davis' agent Rich Paul tells @NYTSports he has NOT given the Pelicans a preferred trade destination for Davis. But Davis' July 2020 free agency obviously gives hm huge say in where he lands since no team will surrender meaningful assets for a player it can't re-sign
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 28, 2019
Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry spoke with Davis on Monday morning and said Davis told him he’d play the rest of the season once he recovers from his finger injury. He was diagnosed with a sprained left finger late last week that was expected to sideline him up to two weeks.
“He plans on playing out the season,” Gentry said on Monday afternoon, writes Andrew Lopez of The Times-Picayune. “That’s my role as to try and win as many games as we possibly can. I think AD is a professional guy. He’s going to play as hard as he can once he gets well and we’re going to the best we can to try and put our team in a position to win games.”
Just hours after Davis’ trade request became public, Gentry, in a conversation with the media, said that the team understands Davis’ request.
“I spoke to the team this morning and I think everybody understands it’s part of the business,” Gentry said, per The Times-Picayune. “I thought we had a good practice. It was a spirited one. That’s all we can do. We have to come out and prepare the team. He’s still under contract. When he gets healthy, he’ll play.”
When questioned about the possibility of trading Davis before the NBA’s Feb. 7 trade deadline, Gentry suggested that this is a matter to discuss with Pelicans general manager Dell Demps and Saints general manager, also Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations, Mickey Loomis.
Davis declined to speak with reporters today after the Pelicans’ practice, but Gentry said Davis had treatment and went through a normal workout in the morning. New Orleans is traveling to face the Houston Rockets tomorrow (8 ET, TNT).
“I didn’t wish to envision it, but in the NBA, things occur,” stated Gentry. “You cope with it. That’s what we’re doing. We’re managing what we have at hand. However, that doesn’t imply we’ll stop competing or attempting to revive the season.”
At Monday’s practice, Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday spoke to reporters and was questioned about Anthony Davis’s alleged trade request. Holiday revealed that Davis had informed him about his desire to be traded before it was publicly announced today.
Jrue Holiday stated, “Anthony had to make the best decision for himself. It’s just business. He’s going to come in and put in the work.”
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) January 28, 2019
“I’ve really enjoyed playing with Anthony. He’s like 90 percent of the reason why I stayed (in New Orleans),” Holiday said, per Will Guillory of The Athletic.
“Holiday stated that Anthony had to make decisions that were in his best interest. He said, “It’s business…he’s going to come in here and work.”
The news of Davis requesting a trade gives the Los Angeles Lakers an excellent chance to vie for him. Paul, who also manages Lakers’s star, LeBron James, has reported that the team is keen on acquiring Davis, according to Wojnarowski.
According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, the Lakers and Knicks have started to prepare trade offers for Davis.
The Boston Celtics have been intermittently speculated as a possible destination for Davis over the years. With a wealth of resources – including young players, future Draft picks, and veterans with preferable deals – the Celtics could potentially orchestrate such a monumental trade. However, due to a rule related to the timing of the last contract extensions signed by Davis and current Celtics star guard Kyrie Irving, the Celtics are prohibited from trading for Davis.
Known as the “Rose Rule,” this provision allows certain players coming off their rookie-scale contracts to earn 30 percent of the salary cap as opposed to 25 percent. To be eligible, a player must have achieved one of the following four accolades in his first four seasons: Kia MVP award, Kia Defensive Player of the Year Award or two All-NBA selections. (When Davis and Irving inked their extensions, All-Star selections were in the wording instead of Kia DPOY.) Davis was a two-time All-Star by the summer of 2015 (when he signed his extension) as was Irving (when he did likewise in the summer of 2014).
According to the NBA collective bargaining agreement, teams are prohibited from trading for more than one player who has signed an extension under the “Rose Rule”. Since the Boston Celtics acquired Irving from the Cleveland Cavaliers in August 2017, they are not permitted to trade for Davis until Irving leaves as a free agent or agrees to a new deal. This cannot occur until July 1, 2019 at the earliest.
Davis’ new team has the potential to sign him to a five-year, $205 million extension next summer if he is traded and completes his current contract. However, if he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2020, the maximum contract he could sign with a new team would be four years for $152 million.
Davis is averaging 29.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.7 steals and 2.6 blocks per game this season. He’ll almost certainly become a six-time All-Star later this week when the NBA announces the full rosters for this year’s game that will be played Feb. 17 in Charlotte.
Davis’ finger injury occurred in a 128-112 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Jan. 18. Various other injuries — including an ankle injury earlier in the season and a hip injury in November — have limited Davis to 41 games this season.
Despite those bumps in the road, though, Davis has been spectacular when healthy. He has scored 30 or more points 12 times this season and 40 or more points seven times. However, the Pelicans are just 11-8 in those 19 games.
New Orleans is 22-28 and has lost three straight and seven of its last eight games, putting it at No. 13 in the Western Conference playoff chase. Last season, Davis was instrumental in the Pelicans’ playoff run, powering them into the postseason as the No. 6 seed. Once there, they swept the No. 3-seeded Portland Trail Blazers in the first round before losing in five games in the West semifinals to the Golden State Warriors.
He’s a top-tier superstar in a team that hasn’t made it past the second playoff round since his arrival in New Orleans. Worse still, the Pelicans failed to qualify for the postseason in four of his first six full seasons.
His declaration to New Orleans about his desire to leave is just the newest strategic play by a high-profile player looking to be traded, mirroring what Kawhi Leonard and Paul George did with San Antonio and Indiana respectively. By stating that he will not renew his contract with the Pelicans, he sends a straightforward message: Trade me, or let me go without any return.
New Orleans, which holds Davis’ contract until the 2019-20 season, has remained firm for months: The Pelicans do not wish to trade their top player, who is expected to sign a five-year extension in 2020 worth $240 million.
“Last month, Gentry stated, ‘We’re not going to trade him,’ a subject he has discussed numerous times. He added, ‘I can announce that to the world. No matter the circumstances, trading him is not an option.'”
A five-time All-Star, Davis was an All-NBA first team member in three of the last four seasons. He has made three All-Defensive teams in his career and is the Pelicans’ all-time leader in points scored, rebounds, blocks, field goals attempted and made and free throws attempted and made.
This time a year ago, the Pelicans possibly had the NBA’s most formidable frontcourt, with Davis teaming up with DeMarcus Cousins. However, Cousins suffered an Achilles tear and ended up signing with Golden State the following summer.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
