Anthony Davis on His Preferred Destinations: 'All 29 Other Teams Are on my List'

It's been a messy situation for Anthony Davis ever since it was announced he'd be sticking with the Pelicans until the end of the season.

February 16, 2019

Anthony Davis requested a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans two weeks before the trade deadline, and it's been a messy situation for him ever since it was announced he'd be sticking with the team until the end of the season.

The team's owners fired Pelicans general manager Dell Demps after trade talks fell apart. When it was reported last month that Davis was turning down a five-year $240 million supermax contract with the Pelicans, a list of his preferred destinations started to circulate. Now he's confirmed that the list was "true," but not before backtracking in an interview later that day.

Among those teams on his original rumored list was the Los Angeles Lakers, who went on to have trade negotiations with the Pelicans before talks eventually fell apart. Speaking with Stefan Bondy of the Daily News, he said, "Whatever list that came out, that's between my agent and the Pelicans. It's true."

That list also included the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, and the New York Knicks. The Boston Celtics, however, were notably absent from that list.

Speaking with NBA TV later on, however, Davis seemingly backtracked from those comments. "All 29 other teams are on my list," he explained when asked about the Boston Celtics. "I don't have a preferred destination, I just wanna win." That would mean the Boston Celtics is still on the table as an option, then.

He continued, "Big market, small market, it doesn't matter." Implying he's happy wherever he'll end up as long as it isn't the Pelicans, he stressed, "I never gave a destination."