By ADAM ZAGORIA
John Calipari says Anthony Davis’s desire to win an NBA championship is fueling his demand for a trade.
And if Davis is dealt to the Lakers, the Kentucky coach isn’t interested in the coaching job.
“He wants to win and I don’t know all the particulars,” Calipari said on ESPN’s “Get Up!” the morning after he watched Class of 2019 Kentucky commit Kahlil Whitney play a big game in New Jersey.
“All I know is he loves New Orleans. He loves the city, loves his team and all that. But all these guys get to the point where winning becomes more important than anything else. And so whether it’s him or guys want to move to a team where they have more of a chance to win.
“I think in the NBA every player knows at the end of their career they’re going to be evaluated did you win a chip? And so Anthony’s no different than any of the other guys in that league.”
On Monday, ESPN reported that Davis is turning down a five-year, $240-million supermax contract from the Pelicans in order to compete for an NBA championship. The Lakers and LeBron James would seem to offer that possibility, and they are seen as the Vegas favorites to land Davis, who may or may not be dealt by the Feb. 7 trade deadline.
FWIW, the Lakers are the favorite to land Anthony Davis in a trade per @betonline_ag with the Celtics and @Knicks among those in the mix pic.twitter.com/MNRupiNMOi
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) January 28, 2019
The Celtics also have a slew of assets but cannot trade for Davis until July 1 because of the Kyrie Irving Rule.
Danny Ainge & Boston have a ton of assets to deal for Anthony Davis after July 1. pic.twitter.com/jDb09v5De2
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) January 31, 2019
Meantime, Calipari, who has consistently been linked to NBA openings during his tenure at Kentucky, said he’s happy at Kentucky and isn’t interested in coaching Davis with the Lakers.
“I’m at Kentucky having a ball preparing young people for the rest of their life,” he said. “It’s a different job than coaching in the NBA. I think Luke [Walton] is doing outstanding work. I’ve watched him coach, I’ve watched his demeanor. I’ve watched his adjustments. He’s coaching a young team in that league and that league is unforgiving now. In that league you’re not playing Popcorn State next week, you’re playing a professional team. Even the teams that are struggling have terrific players.
“So I think Luke’s doing a terrific job. I dont’ know what’s happening with Anthony. He and I haven’t talked about it.”
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