"When Anthony Signed With Klutch, I Knew What Was Going To Happen" - Alvin Gentry Always Knew Anthony Davis Was Going To Bone The Pelicans

(Source) – Gentry says there’s a right way and a wrong way to request a trade. If a star agrees to work privately with the franchise, and agrees to wait until the offseason, he says, it avoids high-profile disruptions that hurt both the player and the team.

“I’m a realist,” Gentry says. “When Anthony signed with Klutch Sports, I knew what was going to happen. They told me, ‘No, we’re not trying to get him traded,’ but we all realized it was just a matter of time.

“I understand that some players feel the need to move on. With Anthony, it could have and should have been handled differently. If it was, I would have been OK with the situation.”

I’ll tell ya what, I love Alvin Gentry. Sure he’s been average at best as an NBA coach, but you know what he does? He keeps it real at all times. This is especially apparent when it comes to the Anthony Davis situation, remember, Gentry has been telling it like it is since the beginning

Few coaches in the league had to put up with as much toxic bullshit last season than Gentry, and it’s fair to say that the AD saga destroyed his team and their season. That’s why if you have a heart you felt awesome for the guy that the league clearly cheated in the Lottery and awarded Gentry Zion

And now he’s coming out and pretty much saying what we all knew. The second we got the Woj/Shams bomb that AD was switching agents and joining Klutch, we ALL knew what it meant. Soon after you had the trade request and the rest is history. Imagine Rich Paul telling you with a straight face that they aren’t trying to get him traded. Who on earth would ever believe that? Everyone had to pretend like there was a chance, hell David Griffin wouldn’t stop talking about how AD was interested in staying, but now we know for certain it was all bullshit.

I also think Gentry makes an interesting point in terms of how Davis handled it. He’s been quoted as saying that he wanted to give the Pelicans every chance to get the biggest package, and that’s why he made the request in February. Technically, that’s bullshit because if the Celts were truly in, the Rose Rule prevented them from making that deal in February, which means NO literally couldn’t entertain every option. Had he waited until the summer and made the same request, it opens everything up. Obviously the Pelicans got a haul that the felt was worthy in the end, at the time it was the largest trade package ever, but I think that’s what Gentry is talking about. Davis didn’t exactly HAVE to request that trade in February and ruin the Pelicans season. That was just Klutch doing Klutch things, Rich Paul even admitted he made that public out of spite or some shit.

In the end, Alvin Gentry finds himself in a much more desirable position than other coaches that have to trade away their franchise cornerstone player. The Pelicans are loaded with young exciting talent, landed the biggest prospect since LeBron and now have zero expectations. Not a bad consolation prize for having to go through a year from hell if you ask me.