Los Angeles Lakers: How Dell Demps firing impacts Anthony Davis trade
By Ronald Agers
How did all of this come together?
Dell Demps was fired just before the All-Star festivities. You were at the game on Thursday night when the drama went down. Two part question here.
First question: Did Anthony Davis go passive-aggressive, in your opinion, leaving early to get his MRI and not staying?
David Grubb:
"I don’t think passive aggressive is the word. He was cowardly. Flat out. To abandon the team in the third quarter without notifying the head coach is highly unprofessional and hypocritical for someone who continues to state that he wants to play the rest of the season. How can he be trusted in the locker room at this point, either in words or effort. It’s sad that AD is destroying his reputation in the city of New Orleans. I think he’s going to regret how he handled this in the long-term. This was the nadir for him as a Pelican."
Follow up question: Did Alvin Gentry’s “Dumpster Fire” comment do Dell Demps in?
David Grubb:
"Demps had multiple reset buttons pressed for him during his tenure. He got his first when the Pelicans squeaked into the playoffs in 2015. He was on thin ice in 2017 until he pulled off the Cousins trade. During the slow start last season, there were grumblings that he was on his was out, but the Pelicans advanced to the second round. Based on what I know from talking to people closer to the decision, Demps was essentially done before Davis’ trade request. My belief is that the Pelicans didn’t pull the trigger then because of the appearance that the organization was in chaos. The Friday of the All-Star break was perfect timing for the Pels, because they didn’t have to hold a press conference and answer questions. Now the Pelicans have time to conduct a thorough search and get out ahead of other teams who may make changes in leadership this offseason."
Which leads to the next question for Lakers fans.