Josh Hart reveals his thought process after Lakers traded him to Pelicans

Josh Hart admits he was emotional when he first found out the Los Angeles Lakers were trading him to the New Orleans Pelicans, but he quickly turned those sad feelings into happy ones once he started thinking rationally.

Hart says it felt good the Pelicans wanted him. The shooting guard was wearing Pelicans gear even before the trade had officially been completed:

"New Orleans wanted me and I wanted to be a part of the city."@joshhart breaks down his thoughts on being traded and the love he already has for the city of New Orleans pic.twitter.com/OYOBwnqZ9k

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) July 23, 2019

New Orleans acquired Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and three first-round picks from the Lakers in the Anthony Davis trade. Hart is excited to begin this next chapter of his NBA career and is thrilled his two pals — Ball and Ingram — are with him in The Big Easy.

Hart, 24, has career averages of 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 130 games while shooting 43.5 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from beyond the arc and 69.5 percent from the free-throw line. Hart told David Griffin not to trade him after the Davis deal went through because he really wanted to play for the Pelicans. Griffin said last week he got a bunch of trade calls on Hart, Ball and Ingram.

New Orleans has had a great offseason. Along with getting Hart, Ball, Ingram and three first-round picks from the Lakers, the Pelicans drafted Zion Williamson with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, acquired veteran big man Derrick Favors from the Utah Jazz and signed sharpshooter JJ Redick in free agency. There are some around the league who believe New Orleans can make the postseason in 2019-20.