Anthony Davis wants to stay in New Orleans, even if his summer has been filled with people asking him when he’s leaving and where he’s going. The Pelicans star spoke to reporters after a youth basketball event on Tuesday and said he’s committed to playing in New Orleans despite the rumors that have nagged him all summer.
Davis hosted his 7-15 basketball camp and told reporters afterwards that he’s not worried about trade rumors that imply the team wants him out of New Orleans. Davis said that the campers themselves were asking him questions about where he was going, especially about the heavily-rumored Boston Celtics.
“I get asked all types of random stuff,” he said with smile. “The craziest (question) was if I was going to Boston.”
Davis was joking, of course, but it’s been an odd summer for Davis and the Pelicans. They think they can compete this season, and DeMarcus Cousins looks to be in good shape and Boogie even says the team will “shock” people this year.
Even a Rajon Rondo signing seems to have bolstered the optimism in New Orleans. But trade rumors have persisted in New Orleans, and Davis said he had to talk to his agent to make sure he’s staying a Pelican.
Davis said that he spoke with his agent, Thaddeus Foucher, and Pelicans general manager Dell Demps about the rumors earlier in the offseason and he was assured that there was nothing to worry about.
“I understand it’s a business, but if I don’t hear anything from Dell or my agent, I don’t pay attention to it,” said Davis, who averaged 28 points and 11.8 rebounds in 2016-17.
“Once I first heard (the rumors), then I heard it again, then I heard it again, I just wanted to make sure. I found out it wasn’t (true), and that was the beginning of the summer, so I haven’t paid attention to it since.”
Getting traded away from a Pelicans team Davis has anchored through some tough times, especially right when things are starting to look up, would be a tough pill for Davis to swallow. And he genuinely seems to enjoy New Orleans.
“I am happy here as a Pelican,” Davis told reporters. “I am happy here.”
But like he said, basketball is a business. If the Pelicans think they can do better than Davis, they will.
