UPDATED Jan. 29, 9:45 a.m. EST: After confirming Anthony Davis wasn't interested in signing an extension with the Pelicans, multiple NBA sources have indicated that Davis and agent Rich Paul are getting ready to tell teams his preferred destination is with the Los Angeles Lakers. ESPN reports the Pelicans won't be looking to make a deal before the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 7 unless they're offered "an overwhelming package."
It's looking increasingly likely, however, that the Lakers are planning to go for Davis big-time. Also of note, if Golden State Warriors don't offer Klay Thompson a max contract, he could reportedly be looking to trade to the Lakers if they manage to get ahold of Davis.
See original story below.
There's been a lot speculation that Anthony Davis has no interest in continuing to play for the New Orleans Pelicans beyond this season, and now ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski has confirmed that he's looking for a new home. "Agent Rich Paul has notified the New Orleans pelicans that All-NBA forward Anthony Davis has no intention of signing a contract extension," he tweeted, adding that Davis has reportedly requested a trade.
As Woj explains in a report for ESPN, Paul has made it clear that Davis wants out of New Orleans as soon as possible. "Anthony wants to be traded to a team that allows him a chance to win consistently and compete for a championship," Paul explained. "Anthony wanted to be honest and clear with his intentions and that's the reason for informing them of this decision now. That's in the best interests of both Anthony's and the organization's future."
Davis and his agent Rich Paul have yet to give the Pelicans a list of teams he's interested in being trading to. Davis doesn't want to appear to eager to leave the Pelicans behind just yet, and were he to give them a list of his preferred teams that wouldn't paint a pretty picture.
Pelicans head coach, Alvin Gentry, has reportedly said that Davis won't be moving to another team before the end of the season. The Times-Picayune writer Andrew Lopez confirmed as much on Twitter, explaining that Gentry told him that Davis is planing on playing out this season, which will conclude in June.
Davis could become a free agent by summer 2020, and he's currently eligible to sign a five-year, $240 extension this summer. However, Davis has let the Pelicans know that he's not interested in doing so. New Orleans haven't indicated that they're looking to trade him before the impending Feb. 7 deadline. League sources have said that the Los Angeles Lakers are eager to acquire Davis, presumably before the deadline. LeBron James has made it very clear that he would relish the opportunity to team up with the league's premiere big man.
Despite Gentry's claim that AD will finish the season with the Pelicans, teams are already gearing up for a trade. Yahoo Sports reports that league sources have said that the Lakers and the New York Knicks are starting to prepare offers for Davis, while the Phildelphia 76ers reportedly aren't interested in pursuing a deal for Davis at the current time. It's also unlikely that any deals involving a trade will swap Davis with any of Rich Paul's other clients. If Davis doesn't get traded during the season, the Celtics could emerge as front-runners to acquire his services in the off-season. No matter where Davis goes, it's likely to change the NBA landscape as we know it. Buckle up, folks.
