Anthony Davis sees similarities with Pelicans exit and Rockets drama

Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis shared his thoughts on the situation regarding the trade requests of the Houston Rockets’ star duo.

The Houston Rockets have had quite a tumultuous offseason, as franchise cornerstones James Harden and Russell Westbrook have reportedly made it known that they don’t want to remain with the franchise. The news came as a bit of a surprise, as the pair only played one season together, and the season was an unusual one, as it was essentially broken down into two different seasons, and was also a shortened version, compared to the normal 82-game schedule we’re accustomed to seeing.

We’ve heard that Harden is specifically requesting a move to the Brooklyn Nets, where he wants to be united with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, not to mention being alongside former Houston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni, who is now an assistant coach on the Nets’ coaching staff. Many have questioned whether a trio of Durant, Harden, and Irving could thrive on the same team, as Harden and Irving are accustomed to being the faces of their respective franchises, and especially of late.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, who is qualified to speak on the matter, as he recently teamed up with LeBron James and saw it culminate in a title during the 2019-20 season, isn’t concerned about a potential superteam in Brooklyn dethroning the Lakers in 2020-21, as he stated on Fansided’s Da Windy City podcast.

Davis cites similarities between Pelicans exit and Rockets’ drama

“I don’t know. They’ve got a great coach over there, a great minded guy who knows the game from a point guard position.

So I don’t know. And it’s not my job to see if it can work. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”

Davis had alot more to say about the frustration among NBA fans and media members regarding players deciding to team up and join forces, much like Harden is attempting to do in Brooklyn.

“Guys have never played on a professional level. How are you gonna say what’s great for the league? You never played in the league. So you don’t know what’s great for the league.

I think players should have the ability to control their own destiny and do what they want to do. I just went through it not too long ago. If a team trades a player, now it’s all about business. It’s the business side of basketball.

But when a player asks to leave or wants to control their own destiny, then the player looks bad. I think the players are just gaining control of their careers back and doing what they want to do and what’s best for them and their families.

If someone gets mad at that, then who cares? I don’t.”

Davis cited his own personal situation with the New Orleans Pelicans as an example of how players should have the ability to determine their own futures and added that he believes Harden and Westbrook won’t need his advice on what they should do regarding the next chapter of their basketball lives.

“They’ve both been through it already. Russ went through it in OKC and James went through it in OKC as well. I think they both know what to do, they’ve been in the league long enough.”

The latest news regarding the Houston Rockets’ star duo is that the Rockets are starting to lose hope on the possibility of keeping Harden, but that Westbrook could stay in Houston, as his trade market reportedly hasn’t been fruitful.

We shouldn’t exactly expect this situation to be resolved anytime soon, as the Rockets have made it known that they don’t want to part with either player, as Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta stated that the team is in win-now mode earlier in the Rockets’ offseason.