While it has long been considered a formality that the Pelicans will move Anthony Davis during the offseason, the star center acknowledged today that, with his contract set to run through at least 2020, it’s not a given that he’ll be playing for a new team next fall.
“I’m under contract still,” Davis said, per Nick Friedell of ESPN.com. “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.”
Davis, who said that he has no regrets about requesting a trade from the Pelicans earlier this year, admitted that the saga was a “wild” experience, but said he’s excited to see what the future holds. Davis’ future figures to be in the hands of New Orleans’ next general manager — while Danny Ferry assumed interim GM duties, Dell Demps‘ permanent replacement has yet to be hired.
“Seeing who the Pelicans make their GM and having a conversation with that person about the future,” Davis said when asked about his next step. “My time here has always been great. I love playing here. It’s something that I will definitely hold in my heart forever, but the next step is waiting on the Pelicans [to fill] that GM job.”
Here’s more on Davis and the Pelicans:
- As Friedell details within the same article, Davis also attempted to sidestep responsibility for wearing a Looney Tunes shirt reading “That’s All Folks” on the day of what could have been his final game as a Pelican. “I didn’t choose it,” AD said. “I actually didn’t choose it. It was hanging for me already when I put my clothes on.”
- Addressing the Davis situation, Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry said the 26-year-old is a “great kid” who got some “bad advice,” Friedell writes in another ESPN.com story. “We’re going to move on regardless of what [happened],” Gentry said. “We’ve got great ownership. We’re going to have great leadership. We got a bunch of guys in there that believe in each other. So it doesn’t matter what [happens], we’re going to be good next year.”
- In his end-of-season presser, Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday said that Demps used to keep him in the loop on major decisions, adding that he hopes the franchise will continue soliciting his input (Twitter link via Will Guillory of The Athletic).
- Holiday also offered his two cents on free-agents-to-be Elfrid Payton and Julius Randle — he’d like to see the team bring both players back, if possible (Twitter link via Guillory).
Why are most NBA players miserable d-bags?
Is AD 10 years old? Lame excuse
Agree with both of you. It’s why I stopped watching the NBA 10 years ago. I’m a New Orleanean, so I check in on what’s happening with the franchise, but if I’ve watched a combination of 3 full games over the last 10 years, that would be a lot.
AD is a class act, shame the Pels organization doesn’t live up to the standards required, so just hope AD goes were he wants & is happy!
Class act who quit on his teammates and fanbase. I guess standards for class have lowered considerably the last 20 years.
He never quit, he did wanna keep on playing, he was having the best individual season of any player in the last 40 years at least, so why would he wanna stop playing? Was the Pels who didn’t wanna play him, so they quit on their team & fans… AD never quitted, just get the facts right dude!
Get your facts right DUDE… AD checked out after his failed attempt to force a trade to LA. When he did play he was just going through the motions and gave a s–t defensive effort. The team actually played better without him.