[TimesPicayune] Hornets' Davis may request trade
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Hornets' Davis may request trade
Guard not pleased with team's moves
Friday, September 03, 2004
By John Reid
Staff writer
Faced with the possibility that the Hornets could struggle
to be a playoff contender in the Western Conference, point
guard Baron Davis' agent Todd Ramasar said he has advised
his client to explore his options.
One of those options could be a trade request, according
to Ramasar. But Ramasar said Thursday night by telephone
that Davis, a two-time All-Star, has not made that demand
yet.
"It's tough for me to comment, but I trust my agent," Davis
said in a statement released by his publicist. "He has my
interest at heart. And I'm prepared for anything at this
point. Bottom line, I love the city of New Orleans and the
community. I'm just focused to play well in the NBA and I'm
getting ready for the season."
"Baron is not demanding a trade, but what he's looking for
is needing more veteran leadership and having someone who is
going to help him on the offensive end, especially next
season," Ramasar said. "It's just a lot of burden to put on
a point guard to be so productive."
Hornets general manager Allan Bristow said he has not spoken
to Ramasar this week but they talked last week. At that time,
Bristow said Ramasar had expressed disappointment with the
direction the team has taken.
Bristow said he is hopeful that communication will remain open
between the team and Davis. But no meeting has been set.
"I feel disappointed because Baron is our franchise player and
we feel we've got the best coaching staff available and we have
some young talent," Bristow said.
Ramasar said Davis wasn't pleased by what the Hornets did in
free agency. They signed free agents Rodney Rogers and Chris
Andersen, but were unsuccessful on attempts to land proven
shooting guards Morris Peterson and Stephen Jackson. Peterson
signed a three-year, $15 million offer sheet with the Hornets
but the Toronto Raptors matched it.
The Hornets offered a six-year deal, worth about $36 million,
to Jackson, but he re-signed with the Atlanta Hawks and then
was traded to the Indiana Pacers.
With training camp set to begin next month, the Hornets have
not made any major trades. But after the Hornets lost to the
Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs, Hornets owner
George Shinn made it a priority to improve the team.
Shinn fired Coach Tim Floyd after one season and hired Byron
Scott, who had led the Nets to two consecutive berths in the
NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.
The Hornets drafted high school player J.R. Smith in the first
round. Smith played well in the summer league play at Long
Beach, Calif.
Yet, a new policy implemented by the team this week could have
angered Davis. The Hornets will no longer allow players to have
their own personal trainers. Davis and center Jamaal Magloire
were the only two players to have their own personal trainers
last season.
"We want a professional environment," Bristow said. "We just
want control of our players for the three hours they are here
practicing."
Meanwhile, Davis appeared to be pleased with the direction the
team was taking after Scott was hired. He attended several team
functions and at a media party to introduce Scott. Davis said he
was happy to be playing for a coach that he truly respects.
"I suggested that it may be in Byron's best interest to move on
with his career," Ramasar said. "It's nothing against the city
of New Orleans or nothing against the organization, it's just
what is in Baron's best interest."
Davis averaged a career-high 22.9 points per game last season
and was an All-Star selection.
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