LOS ANGELES _ The NBA fined Anthony Davis $50,000 on Tuesday, saying his agent's public comments about the All-Star forward's desire to be traded violated the collective bargaining agreement.
"The fine is for statements that were made by Davis' agent, Rich Paul, in an intentional effort to undermine the contractual relationship between Davis and the Pelicans," the league said in a statement.
While $50,000 might not constitute much of Davis' $25.4-million salary, it is the maximum the NBA can fine a player for public comments asking for a trade, according to the league's bylaws.
On Monday, Paul told several outlets including the Los Angeles Times that Davis had asked New Orleans for a trade and informed the team that he would not agree to a "supermax" contract extension that could pay him $240 million over five years. Only the Pelicans are eligible to pay Davis that much money, and if he's traded he will leave significant money on the table.
Davis can opt out of his current five-year, $127-million deal after next season.
The Lakers intend to make an offer for Davis soon, and it could involve several of their young players. The Pelicans have interest in Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Ivica Zubac, and they likely would ask for draft picks too.
New Orleans is in no rush to make a deal and was rankled by Davis' request. In a statement Monday, the Pelicans said they had asked the NBA to strictly enforce its tampering policy.
Although Ball has no say in where he might land, his preference would be for the Lakers to find a third team such as Chicago or New York for the second-year point guard, according to sources not authorized to speak publicly. His camp has concerns about how crowded the Pelicans' backcourt is.
The problem for Ball is that he is a key part of what the Pelicans want in a deal for Davis. And according to sources, the Pelicans view Ball as a player who would become the starting point guard. They don't see Jrue Holiday as a point guard because he "doesn't want to be a point guard," one source said.
The sources said the Pelicans would play Ball 35 minutes a night and make sure he "would fit" in with New Orleans so he could become a star.
