Bye-bye Brow? Davis tells Pelicans he wants out
-
Adrian WojnarowskiESPN
Agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports has informed the New Orleans Pelicans that All-NBA forward Anthony Davis won’t sign a contract extension and has requested a trade, Paul told ESPN on Monday morning.
“Anthony wants to be traded to a team that allows him a chance to win consistently and compete for a championship,” Paul told ESPN. “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 is eligible to sign a five-year, $240 million supermax extension this summer. He can become a free agent in the summer of 2020. New Orleans has expressed no desire to trade him before the Feb. 7 trade deadline.
Davis’ declaration on wanting out now gives teams other than the Boston Celtics a head start in pursuing trades for him. Boston cannot trade for Davis until July 1 because league rules wouldn’t allow Kyrie Irving’s and Davis’ contracts under the designated rookie exception on the roster together. The designated rookie exception allows players coming off their rookie-scale contracts to earn 30 percent of the salary cap rather than 25 percent if they meet certain criteria.
Irving becomes a free agent on July 1. Boston could agree to a Davis trade before July 1 that isn’t finalized until after that date.
This is an opportunity for the Los Angeles Lakers to be aggressive in offering a package for Davis before Boston’s inclusion into talks. Paul also represents Lakers star LeBron James, and the Lakers have been determined to acquire Davis in a deal, league sources said.
Most NBA teams will check on the possibility of a Davis trade.
Davis, 25, who is averaging 29.3 points and 13.3 rebounds per game, is currently sidelined with a volar plate avulsion fracture of his left index finger.
