New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis has been fined $50,000 by the NBA after his agent, Rich Paul, told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday that his client "wants to be traded to a team that allows him a chance to win consistently and compete for a championship."
The NBA's collective bargaining agreement prohibits players or their agents from publicly requesting trades.
Paul, of Klutch Sports, told ESPN on Monday that he had informed the Pelicans that Davis won't sign an extension this summer and wants a trade. Multiple league sources expect the agent and star to soon deliver word throughout the league that Davis' preferred destination is the Los Angeles Lakers, and he'll become a rental player until 2020 with a trade anywhere else.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass told ESPN on Monday night that the league had commenced an investigation earlier that morning upon reading the reports regarding Davis.
The NBA's statement announcing the fine cited the comments made by Paul as "an intentional effort to undermine the contractual relationship between Davis and the Pelicans."
The $50,000 represents the most Davis can be fined without the player filing a grievance. He is making $25,434,263 this season.
Davis has been sidelined since he suffered a volar plate avulsion fracture of his left index finger on Jan. 18, but he could return as soon as this week.
The Pelicans plan to listen to offers on Davis but won't make a deal before next Thursday's NBA trade deadline unless they're offered an overwhelming package for the franchise's star, league sources told Wojnarowski.
