Fansided

5 biggest disappointments of the 2018-19 NBA season

By Bryan Toporek

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 2: Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) talks with Bradley Beal (3) during action against the Atlanta Hawks at Capital One Arena. (Photo by Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 2: Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) talks with Bradley Beal (3) during action against the Atlanta Hawks at Capital One Arena. (Photo by Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post via Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 30: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans (left) talks with his agent Rich Paul (right) after the game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on November 30, 2018 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 30: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans (left) talks with his agent Rich Paul (right) after the game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on November 30, 2018 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

4. Anthony Davis’ trade request

If Anthony Davis wanted to damage his reputation, well… mission accomplished!

In late January, Davis informed the New Orleans Pelicans that he would not sign the five-year, $240 million supermax extension they were sure to offer him this summer, according to ESPN.com’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Instead, he requested a trade, putting the Pelicans on the clock ahead of the NBA’s Feb. 7 trade deadline.

“Anthony wants to be traded to a team that allows him a chance to win consistently and compete for a championship,” Davis’ agent, Rich Paul, told Wojnarowski. “Anthony wanted to be honest and clear with his intentions and that’s the reason for informing them of this decision now. That’s in the best interests of both Anthony’s and the organization’s future.”

While Paul attempted to frame Davis’ trade request altruistically, the ensuing leaks about Davis’ desire to join the Los Angeles Lakers all but eviscerated the Pelicans’ leverage. The Pelicans refused to trade him to the Lakers or anywhere else by the deadline, as it behooved them to wait until the summer to see how the draft order shakes out and allow the Boston Celtics to get involved.

In the meantime, Davis put the Pelicans in the awkward position of having to balance playing him enough not to get fined while protecting him against injuries that would crush his trade value. With Pelicans fans ready to look ahead to the post-Davis era, that charade went about as well as Carmelo Anthony’s tenure with the Houston Rockets.

Davis may end up forcing his way to L.A. this summer as desired, but the heavy-handed way in which he went about his trade request could cause the Pelicans to ignore the Lakers out of spite.

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