Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo shed some light on how the Anthony Davis trade talks back in February impacted the team's chemistry for the remainder of the season.
In his interview with Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report, Rondo said that almost everyone on the team grew up idolizing LeBron James. So when they found their names in all the trade rumors, they reacted negatively because they felt like the four-time MVP didn't want to play with them.
“Every guy on our team, LeBron was their favorite player growing up. Everyone had the shoes, his jersey. You're the biggest fan in the world. It's like you're playing with MJ, and then you get there, and it's like your mom and dad, or the person that you looked up to and idolized, doesn't want you.
When Anthony Davis publicly requested a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans one week before the trade deadline, the Lakers aggressively tried to acquire him. They offered almost their entire young core, a bunch of veterans, and some picks for Davis. But no deal materialized as the Pels reportedly didn't want to negotiate with the Purple and Gold.
However, there has been no change between then and now. The Lakers will still go after Davis this summer, and if they miss out on him, they can shift their focus on other players like the Washington Wizards' Bradley Beal. So it is entirely possible that the players who were affected by all the rumors a couple of months ago will still be traded.
And that's the harsh reality in the NBA.
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