New Orleans isn't typically a city in which NBA players want to play, but Josh Hart might be an exception.
Upon being acquired by the New Orleans Pelicans from the Los Angeles Lakers in a deal that sent Anthony Davis to Hollywood last month, Hart apparently told New Orleans executive vice president David Griffin not to flip him in another trade — something which Griffin found “really meaningful” according to Scott Kushner of The New Orleans Times Picayune.
Hart went to the Pelicans along with Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball in the deal, with three first-round draft picks also going to New Orleans as part of the blockbuster package.
The 24-year-old is coming off of a 2018-19 campaign in which he played 67 games and made 22 starts, averaging 7.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 steal over 25.6 minutes per game while shooting 40.7 percent from the floor, 33.6 percent from 3-point range and 68.8 percent from the free-throw line.
Hart, who played his collegiate basketball at Villanova, was originally selected by the Utah Jazz in the first round (30th pick overall) of the 2017 NBA Draft, but he was immediately traded to the Lakers.
He went on to appear in 63 contests during his rookie year, making 23 starts. During that time, he registered 7.9 points and 4.2 boards across 23.2 minutes a night.
The Pelicans won just 33 games this past season, but they wound up winning the NBA Draft Lottery. They then proceeded to select Zion Williamson with the first overall pick last month.
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