Anthony Davis Rumors: Lakers Could Have Hard Time Making Trade For Star After Dell Demps' Firing

The New Orleans Pelicans can’t trade Anthony Davis during the rest of the NBA season, but they are making some big changes to the organization. General manager Dell Demps has reportedly been fired just a few weeks after the team’s best player requested to be dealt.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Pelicans’ owner Gayle Benson was “livid” that Davis left the arena Thursday night prior to the conclusion of New Orleans’ game with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Pelicans upset the Thunder 131-122, but not before Davis left the contest with what would be later diagnosed as a shoulder contusion. The All-Star was seen leaving the Smoothie King Center while the contest was still ongoing.

“I’m happy for all of them,” Pelicans’ head coach Alvin Gentry told reporters of his players after the game, acknowledging that he didn’t know if David left the building. “To tell you the truth, this whole thing has been a dumpster fire.

“It’s just hard, you know, we want guys to be professional and do this, but it’s hard for guys to go through what they’ve been through. To be able to come out and beat a team of that quality, I’m happy for all the guys. I thought that they did a great job.”

Wojnarowski also noted that the Pelicans would “push back on Anthony Davis preferred trade destinations.” It’s no secret that Davis’ top choice is to play for the Los Angeles Lakers, though he’s also listed the New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers as teams he’d like to join.

The Lakers were the most aggressive team in pursuit of Davis at the trade deadline, reportedly offering a package that included Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and multiple first-round draft picks in exchange for Davis. The Pelicans reportedly didn’t give the offer much consideration.

New Orleans held off on trading Davis in hopes of getting a better offer this summer. The Boston Celtics are expected to present the Pelicans with a more desirable package in the offseason when the NBA rules will allow them to have both Davis and Kyrie Irving on their roster at the same time.

However, the Pelicans’ decision to turn down the Lakers might not have solely been based on what New Orleans could get for Davis in a few months. The organization didn’t seem interested in sending Davis to the team he wanted to play for, and Lakers’ president Magic Johnson said he believed New Orleans didn’t act in good faith during trade negotiations.

There’s no guarantee that Boston will blow New Orleans away with an offer, especially amid rumblings that Irving might not re-sign with the Celtics this summer. Los Angeles could conceivably make New Orleans the best offer in the offseason, depending on what happens in free agency and the draft lottery, but that might not be enough to put Davis in purple and gold.

In baseball, a tie goes to the runner. In the trade talks for Anthony Davis, a tie might go to any team that isn’t the Los Angeles Lakers.