Earlier this month, Anthony Davis asked for a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans after spending six-and-a-half seasons with the team. The Pelicans were not able to get a deal done before the Feb. 7 trade deadline, but they will almost certainly trade him this summer.

Hall-of-Fame big man Kareem Abdul-Jabbar understands Davis' situation.

Once upon a time, Abdul-Jabbar asked the Milwaukee Bucks for a trade and ended up getting dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers.

As for what he had to say of Davis' current predicament? He thinks that both Davis and New Orleans have already messed things up:

“Well, I think that he and his team have already messed it up,” said Abdul-Jabbar, according to HoopsHype. “I had a good relationship with the Milwaukee front office and I told them. I didn't do a public thing with it. I told them privately that I wasn't going to re-sign. I said, ‘Look, make the best deal that you can and I'll keep my mouth shut and go along with it, but here's where I want to go and see what you can do and see what you can get.'”

The six-time NBA champion said that the Bucks were able to do things quietly:

“They were able to work behind closed doors more effectively,” he said. “That's unfortunate because a lot more can be done behind closed doors and if somebody's toes get stepped on, an apology can be made and you can keep negotiating, you know?”

Abdul-Jabbar obviously makes some good points, but the climate is also so much different today than it was back then, making it increasingly difficult to keep things private.