As the Los Angeles Lakers wind down one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history and brace for a consequential summer that could include major changes to try to return to a championship trajectory, Anthony Davis says he doesn't concern himself with hypothetical trade scenarios that involve him.
"I can't control those things," Davis told ESPN after the Lakers loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, which eliminated L.A. from play-in tournament contention. "That's an upstairs thing. A Klutch, Rich Paul thing. My agency.
"I mean, my job is to go out and play basketball. Obviously I love it in L.A. If that's something that they're considering, then we'll have a conversation about it. I don't know what they're talking about, what's the plan."
To be clear, Davis has no indication that the Lakers will trade him, but as a 10-year NBA veteran, he is aware how the league works. "I mean, I don't think they're planning on doing anything [with me]," he said. "I don't know, man. F—, I don't know."
L.A. traded for Davis nearly three years ago, sending Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, three first-round picks and two pick swaps to the New Orleans Pelicans for the talented big man.
Davis made an immediate impact in his first year with L.A., playing 62 out of 71 regular season games in the hiatus-shortened season, helping the Lakers to the championship while finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Following that title, the Lakers rewarded Davis with a five-year, $190-million contract extension.
He's missed exactly half of L.A.'s regular season games since then because of various injuries. Thursday's game against the Golden State Warriors, which Davis will be sidelined for because of a right mid-foot sprain and plantar fascia, marks Game No. 76 out of 152 he'll have sat out since the start of the 2020-21 season.