SAN ANTONIO - According to Stephen A. Smith of ESPN’s First Take, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich made a call to New Orleans Pelicans general manager Dell Demps to tell him not to “cave in” to All-Star forward Anthony Davis’s apparent desire to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Report suggests Popovich warned Demps not to trade Davis to Lakers
- Davis made it clear he will not re-sign with Pelicans
- NBA trade deadline is February 7
Davis, who is represented by agent Rich Paul, who is also LeBron James’s agent, has made it clear to the Pelicans that he has no intention of signing a contract extension and would prefer to be traded to the Lakers, to play with James. Popovich and the Spurs are reticent to do business with the Lakers, long-time rivals in the NBA’s Western Conference, as evidenced by their unwillingness to trade Kawhi Leonard to LA last summer.
Though Popovich and the Spurs have no control over any potential trade the Pelicans might make, he is one of the league’s most well-respected coaches. Davis is under contract to New Orleans through the 2019-2020 season, but is rumored to be unwilling to sign a contract extension with any other team besides the Lakers. The NBA’s trade deadline is February 7.