Warriors' Coach Criticizes Anthony Davis Trade Demand, Slams Process That Got Lakers A Top NBA Star

For the first time in a half-decade, the Golden State Warriors are not the team to beat in the Western Conference. The NBA’s most recent dynasty seemingly came to an end this summer in the midst of historic player movement, which included Kevin Durant leaving the Bay Area for the Brooklyn Nets.

The Los Angeles Lakers were at the center of the crazy offseason as one of the finalists in the Kawhi Leonard Sweepstakes and the team that ultimately traded for Anthony Davis. Even with a year left on his contract, Davis almost acted as if he were a free agent, forcing his way to L.A. by reportedly making it known that he would only sign with the Lakers or New York Knicks in 2020.

Davis’ trade request become public during the middle of last season. When it was leaked that the Lakers essentially tried to trade every player with the exception of LeBron James for the New Orleans Pelicans’ superstar, both teams saw their seasons go off the rails.

Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry called the situation a “dumpster fire.” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr might have had similar feelings, given what he said on the latest edition of “The Warriors Insider Podcast.”

While noting that he is all for free agents changing teams, Kerr indicated that he believes the Anthony Davis Saga was a problem for the league.

“I’m talking more about the Anthony Davis situation. Where a guy is perfectly healthy and has a couple of years left on his deal and says, ‘I want to leave.’ I think that’s a real problem that the league has to address and that the players have to be careful with,” Kerr told Monte Pool. “To me when you sign on that dotted line, you owe your effort and your play to that team, to that city, to the fans. And then it’s completely your right to leave as a free agent. But if you sign the contract, then you should be bound to that contract.”

Kerr made sure to state that he wasn’t criticizing a player like Russell Westbrook, who was traded with four years left on his contract when he indicated he wanted out of Oklahoma City. Westbrook was moved quickly this summer after Paul George was dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers.

“If you come to an agreement with the team that, hey, it’s probably best for us to part ways, that’s one thing,” Kerr said. “But the Davis stuff was really kind of groundbreaking, I think, and hopefully not a trend, because it’s bad for the league.”

Davis played in just 56 games for the Pelicans last season, missing little time due to injury. New Orleans cut their best player’s minutes drastically after the All-Star break out of fear that he might get hurt and lose some of his trade value.

In the 2017-2018 season, Davis had a career-year, averaging 28.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. He finished third in MVP voting and led New Orleans to a first-round sweep over the Portland Trail Blazers.

But just a few months into the 2018-2019 campaign, Davis told the organization that he wouldn’t sign a supermax offer the following summer. In order to eventually avoid losing their star for nothing, New Orleans began to entertain trade offers.

Even though Davis seemingly hurt his value by warning almost the entire league that he wouldn’t re-sign with them when he could hit free agency in 2020, the Pelicans still managed to acquire a massive haul of young players and draft picks from the Lakers.