Whether or not he will still consider signing with the Lakers or any team that would eventually pick Zion Williamson as their No. 1 pick in the Draft Lottery, Anthony Davis' name will still linger with much speculation and notoriety. Up to this point, he is still considered by many as a prime prospect in the free agency list. Now that the Pelicans' season is officially over, Davis is more than adamant on his decision to be traded.
After a 112-103 loss to defending champs Golden State Warriors, CBS Sports reported on Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry speaking his mind about Davis. At first, the head coach lauded the big man, saying that "he's a great kid" with "good character." There's no question about his talent, though, as Davis turned out to be a solid MVP candidate.
However, Gentry added that Davis, notwithstanding his solid career in New Orleans, "got some bad advice." This was Gentry's honest statement, but he declined to provide more insights about him telling "the truth" about the situation. On the other, he considered the Davis-Lakers trade talks as a "toxic" moment considering that amount of attention it gained and how it affected the two teams.
On a separate article, NBC Sports recalled that Davis and agent Rich Paul handled the latter's trade request "laughably poorly." This made the issue volatile in the sense that the Lakers offered 3/5 of their starting lineup in exchange for Davis. The drama continued until the wee hours of the trade deadline. Unfortunately, no deals were made, although it made an impact to Lakers fans and on how the team played after.
Aside from the Lakers, one source also said that Davis is considering the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers and the Boston Celtics as his next destination. Another outfit also sees the Milwaukee Bucks as a strong contender to acquire former No. 1 draft pick. There's no word as of late from the camp of Davis, but rest assured that these teams will go out with guns blazing this summer.
It's a safe bet that Davis will not change his mind. He will be a free agent this summer, and his shirt says it all. Even with Gentry hoping that Davis will reconsider that Pelicans, the indications about him leaving are all laid down neatly. The only question now is where Davis is heading.
Any team that will land Davis will undoubtedly be a strong contender. The Knicks, for example, is on Davis' trail now that they are also targeting Kevin Durant. Previous reports are pointing that if New York gets first dibs in the upcoming NBA Draft, the Pelicans "would love" to trade Davis for Zion Williamson. If not, then the Anthony Davis spectacle will be one for the books.
