Anthony Davis was spotted leaving the Smoothie King Arena on Thursday night after he suffered a shoulder injury in the team’s win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, and that may have indirectly contributed to general manager Dell Demps losing his job.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Friday that the Pelicans’ ownership group was “livid” over Davis walking out. They feel the situation with the star big man has gotten out of hand, and they want a new general manager who can take back control.
Ownership was livid with an injured Anthony Davis leaving arena during Thursday night’s game, sources say. Gayle Benson is telling associates she wants an overhaul of Pelicans and a search for a GM to take command of Davis trade talks and the reshaping of team’s future.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 15, 2019
Interestingly enough, Wojnarowski added that Gayle Benson and the Pelicans’ owners have been pleased with the way head coach Alvin Gentry and his staff have handled the team in the wake of Davis’ public trade request.
Ownership and senior management have been pleased with coach Alvin Gentry and his staff and believe players are largely responding in what’s been a tumultuous stretch, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 15, 2019
Davis appeared to suffer the shoulder injury just before halftime while attempting to block a Nerlens Noel shot. The Pelicans quickly announced him as out for the remainder of the game. Davis also recently suffered a finger injury and wanted to play through it, and the Pelicans reportedly wanted to sit him but faced fines from the NBA if they went that route. Since he returned from the finger injury, Davis has not played his usual amount of minutes or been as effective.
It’s no surprise that the Pelicans are trying to make organizational changes, especially when you consider the way Gentry described the team’s current situation on Thursday.
