Earlier this week, a rumor surfaced about two of the NBA’s brightest young stars teaming up on the Los Angeles Lakers in the future. Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook were the two players mentioned, but it didn’t take long before one of the two denied any interest in leaving their current team.
The Pelicans may still be struggling with the team on pace to miss the NBA playoffs yet again in the Davis era. Although New Orleans hasn’t improved with the future continuing to look bleak even with Davis in the fold, the face of the franchise said the following about whether he’s happy playing for the Pelicans, via Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com:
“I don’t plan on leaving, so make sure you write that down,” Davis said when asked about trade speculation.
Davis was also asked about the rumor linking him and Westbrook to the Lakers, via Duncan:
“I don’t pay attention to (the rumors),” Davis said. “I don’t know who said it or how it came about. I’m with the Pelicans right now.”
At this point, Davis isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. The 23-year-old is under contract with the Pelicans through the 2020-21 season after signing an extension with the team back in the summer of 2015, and a trade involving the Kentucky product seems highly unlikely.
Westbrook, however, may be a different story with the triple-double machine having the option to be a free agent after the 2017-18 NBA season. Westbrook has a player option for the 2018-19 campaign at $30.6 million.
Although Westbrook will likely opt out in an attempt to secure a long-term deal, the new CBA will make it difficult for a team like the Lakers to swoop in and sign the superstar as he’d have to take considerably less to leave Oklahoma City.