Anthony Davis‘ public trade request has generated plenty of discussion over the last five weeks, from the Pelicans shopping him ahead of this year’s trade deadline to his playing time moving forward. Per Andrew Lopez of NOLA.com, NBA commissioner Adam Silver discussed the situation on Friday, criticizing the publicity of Davis’ demand and explaining the difficult spot it has put the team and the league in.
“It’s not good when a player whose agent shows up in a city he doesn’t live in and announces this player doesn’t want to be here,” Silver said. “That’s bad for the fans there.”
Silver also referenced the “entertainment” value of the circumstances surrounding the news. Not only does the league receive more attention after his demand went public but interest in watching him play in the present also increases. Given the financial implications of New Orleans potentially sitting the six-time All-Star for the remainder of the season, Silver said the conflict has “two sides.”
“It puts the league in a difficult position because back to the notion of an entertainment product because I can tell you, I look at the ratings and I can say the interest in the team is still going to be greater with Anthony Davis on the floor than when he’s not on the floor,” he said. “He is a top player in this league. People are paying to see him compete.”
Davis appeared on LeBron James‘ HBO program this week, labeling himself the “CEO of my business.” Additionally, the perennial MVP candidate has said he would be open to playing for any team next season — the final year on his contract.
While Silver praised owner Gayle Benson‘s handling of the situation, the NBA commissioner admitted there’s no specific protocol to handle the matter.
“I don’t have an easy solution to the facts at hand take with Anthony Davis, but I think there are long term solutions,” Silver said. “We’re constantly looking for a better system.”
What’s happening with AD in NOLA is on management, not AD. He’s done everything in his power to get that team to the level of being a championship contender and they haven’t helped him.
” . . . the NBA figurehead . . . ”
Interesting take on Adam Silver’s authority. You seem to be asserting he’s not the power he claims to be. Figurehead for who, just out of curiosity?
Silver is just a puppet for Queen James as everyone knows who the real commissioner of the league is.
Winner winner chicken dinner
It’s been obvious for years now.
The problem is guaranteed contracts. You get paid for either you play or not.
I’m an NBA fan that goes back to Bill Russell, Wilt, Oscar etc… but seeing what is happening to the game today is like taking one step forward and two steps backwards. Sad!!!
Yes, bring back the Four Corners offense.
New Orleans did it to themselves when they traded buddy hield and a first for half a season of Cousins. Should have built around buddy and AD. He has shown to be the better player compared to oft injured cousins.
Don’t blame AD at all for leaving.
Silver is a joke he actually commanded the owner of the pelicans for how they have handled the situation. The owner of the pelicans actually told the general manager if you trade him to the Lakers you will be fired. How is that handling the situation well? People keep saying all this stuff about how silver favors LeBron well LeBron is on the Lakers and silver has done everything but show favoritism towards the Lakers. Oh! I just said something nice about the Lakers maybe I will get find now.
Rich Paul is just a terrible person.
silver was sitting next to celtic owners at saturdays game
AD has behaved impeccably like a true gentleman. Funny how fans always say players have to be loyal to their team honoring contracts… but what I say is that loyalty starts with the teams, on a daily basis you hear of teams saying they wanna trade a player, but for some reason that is ok, but if a player say that all the fans get upset, really a very screwed way to see life. The league is about stars & players they are the show, not the teams, you could change all 30 teams names & shuffle their locations & the league would be just as good, fill the actual teams with G-League type of players & it would be real garbage. So I am very happy when players are honest like AD asking for a trade.
Like the new AAF league almost went defunct after the first week, you have to have both owners and players. Without owners, you have no league.
I never recall reading anywhere that AD demanded a trade. He simply informed the PELs that he wasn’t going to resign. Everyone cried foul when KD and LeBron both hamstrung there teams but not committing one way or the other. I say AD did right letting them know in advance so they can trade him.
Totally agree dude!
First time you’ve said that. When Altman asked LeBron if he’d stay if he didn’t trade Kyrie, you’ve always been LeBron can do whatever he wants, and doesn’t owe the Cavs or Gilbert anything. Yes Paul George, Bledsoe, Kawhi, Jimmy Butler, and AD did it the right way IMO, their teams got something in return. The Cavs didn’t.
cesc, I’m proud of you. You are finally coming out and admitting that what Kyrie did was right by allowing the Cavs to get something in return.
Ptn the situations are not remotely similar.
Irving was not even going to take the court! AD is taking the court, wanting to play for whichever his team is.
That you think Kyrie did right says something about you but I’m not surprised.
I think that saying that AD didn’t demand a trade is ignoring the obvious. I don’t like any of these situations but there’s a big difference between KD and LeBron vs AD. You’re essentially saying I rather have players state that they will not honor their contracts than leave it a mystery.
He did demand a trade. He had Rich Paul say that he wanted traded to the Lakers.
Your 100% man
I think that the players are feeling their oats and have let “it’s a players league” go to their heads. So, do any players have any intention of honoring their contracts? What about the issue where teams build around them? How exactly does a team build when you can never count on the commitment of star players? This isn’t the first team to be destroyed this season (see Butler circus). I keep seeing “AD is such a great guy”. No, he’s committed fraud, he signed a contract and has now tried to get out of it by laying waste to a franchise. Players need to figure out if they’re going to go forward with integrity or weather this fiasco will be business as usual from now on.