Anthony Davis Addresses Lakers, Celtics Trade Talks, 2020 Free Agency

Anthony Davis’ future with the New Orleans Pelicans has been a regular topic of discussion at the NBA in recent months, with many questioning how long before he leaves the struggling franchise to pastures new in search for NBA championships.

The power forward is contracted to the Pelicans until the summer of 2020 when he can enter free agency, but he is eligible for a supermax deal worth $239 million over five-years next summer and his current employers are certain to make the offer.

There have been talks about a potential trade before the trade deadline in February – but the Pelicans hierarchy have made it clear that they are not willing to let him leave this season. The Los Angeles Lakers are said to be leading the race for his signature, but there will be no shortage of suitors should he become available for a trade.

The Boston Celtics have been long-term admirers and have the necessary ammunition – young potential and draft picks - to tempt the Pelicans into sanctioning a trade. But they have to wait until summer owing to them, signing Kyrie Irving via a trade in 2017, which makes him a designated player until he re-signs in the summer.

The speculation about Davis’ future has been constant in recent months with many predicting that he could force a trade before the deadline this season, while many are certain that this is his last season with the Pelicans. Moreover, they will be forced to trade him if he rejects the supermax this summer.

Davis has finally chosen to address the speculation and he immediately poured cold water on any potential move this season suggesting that his immediate aim is to get back to winning consistently with the Pelicans – the team that he has spent his entire NBA career with.

The Pelicans are currently 14^th in the Western Conference and are a long shot to make the playoffs. They can certainly make it, but need to start picking up positive results on a consistent basis.

“That other stuff doesn’t matter to me,” Davis told The Athletic on Monday. “The only thing that matters to me is this team right here, and all I can do to help this team win and what we can do as a team to get more wins. The other stuff is for guys outside the team, and media, whoever wants to look at it. For me, it’s about this team and what we can do to win.”

“I don’t care what other people think. For me, it’s always about in the moment,” the Pelicans forward added. “If you try to think too far ahead, you get caught, you get lost from what is going on in the moment. For me it’s always about tonight’s game, today’s shootaround, how can I be better in the moment instead of trying to plan too far ahead or look too far ahead, because you lose sight of the moment.”

“I think that’s what people get caught up in, just not being able to stay in the moment and cherish the moment and figure out what you can do right now to help your team.”