The Anthony Davis trade demand was the talk of the NBA for a solid two-week span and even more. Though the subject matter controlled the sports news cycle and even took headlines away from the Super Bowl, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says that’s not the kind of attention he wants.
Speaking from NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, Silver addressed the Davis storyline.
“When they make a public spectacle of it,” Silver said, “I hear you in terms of the enormous media interest that comes from it. But that’s not the kind of media interest we’re looking for.
“Whether it be a team or a player not meeting a contractual obligation, that’s something you just don’t want to see as a league.”
Davis was fined for his agent making a public trade demand. Then there were reports about Davis’ preferred trade destination, with many figuring agent Rich Paul was trying to force things so he could pair Davis with his other top client, LeBron James. The New Orleans Pelicans then leaked details of the Lakers’ trade offers, seemingly as a way to toy with them.
After no trade materialized, the Pelicans were left in an awkward spot, knowing they would be losing Davis in the offseason via a trade, while being unmotivated to play him the rest of the season for fear of an injury. The league reportedly stepped in with a threat at that point.
When it comes to that, you can understand why Silver would say it’s not ideal for the league.
