“I deserved more respect!” Anthony Davis lashes out at the Lakers over blockbuster trade involving Luka Doncic In a candid post-game interview, New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis expressed frustration over persistent trade rumours linking him to the Los Angeles Lakers in a potential blockbuster deal for Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic. Davis, who has long been linked to Los Angeles, argued that his loyalty and on-court production merit greater consideration from the Pelicans front office. “I’ve put in the work, I’ve stayed healthy, and I’ve helped build this franchise,” he said. “I deserve to be treated with more respect, plain and simple.” The remarks come amid speculation that the Lakers are exploring every option to acquire a second max-contract partner for LeBron James, with Davis and Doncic both believed to be on their shortlist. While the Mavericks have publicly committed to building around Doncic, the 2018 No. 1 pick, the Lakers’ pursuit of elite talent could force the Pelicans to re-evaluate their long-term plans for Davis. For his part, Davis stopped short of requesting a trade but made it clear that he expects the organization to engage in honest dialogue about its championship aspirations. “I’m not going to sit here and beg for a trade,” he explained. “But I also won’t pretend that I’m not aware of what’s going on. I just want what’s best for my career, and I think I’ve earned the right to have a say in that.” The 25-year-old power forward has averaged 28.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game this season, numbers that place him among the league’s elite big men. His combination of size, athleticism, and improving shooting range has made him a coveted asset, and the Lakers-eager to contend for a title alongside James-are said to be monitoring his situation closely. As for the Mavericks, they remain focused on developing Doncic, the 20-year-old Slovenian sensation who has dazzled fans with his playmaking and poise. Doncic, who is under team control through the 2023–24 season, has averaged 21.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in his rookie campaign, earning widespread praise for his ability to create shots for himself and others. Nevertheless, the mere mention of his name in trade discussions has raised eyebrows across the league, underscoring the Lakers’ aggressive approach to building a superteam. For now, the Pelicans insist that Davis is not actively on the market, and the Mavericks maintain that Doncic is untouchable. But in a league where winning trumps loyalty almost every time, nothing is certain until the final buzzer sounds on trade talks

The Mavs’ much-hyped acquisitions of Davis and Harrison quickly turned sour. Harrison was vilified from the moment the trade was announced; fans jeered, held mock funerals for the franchise and loudly called for his dismissal at every home game. The inevitable release came in November last year.

As for Davis, a series of injuries limited him to only 20 games, yet when healthy he delivered 20.4 points and 11.1 rebounds, flashes of brilliance that nonetheless could not secure his long-term future in Texas. 

At the February trade deadline, Dallas shipped him to the Washington Wizards, where he is expected to pair with Trae Young next season in an attempt to lift the league’s current cellar-dwellers back into relevance.
Even so, the capital city’s starting five remains far from certain. According to reports, Davis is already pressing for a new guaranteed two-year deal this summer.

“Without knowing the right plan,” it is “hard to say” whether he will definitely stay in Washington, Davis said in February. “At this stage of my career, I want to be in the mix for titles,” the 2020 champion with the Lakers made clear. “No idea whether I can do that here or not,” he admitted. Everything he has been shown and told so far has been “phenomenal,” he emphasised, “but now we need to talk seriously about the team.”