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The Pelicans posted what was either an ill-timed promoted post or an thinly veiled shot at Anthony Davis just hours after he announced his desire to leave the team.
- New Orleans Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis announced his desire to be traded on Monday.
- Just hours after the news became public, the Pelicans posted a picture to Instagram celebrating "True Teammates," which some saw as a shot at Davis.
- While it's possible the timing of the post was a coincidence, the awkward situation is a good illustration of the tension that now exists between the franchise and its star player.
Anthony Davis is set for an awkward few days with the New Orleans Pelicans.
The perennial All-Star told his team on Monday that he wanted to be traded, and his agent didn't mince words to express his desires.
"Anthony wants to be traded to a team that allows him a chance to win consistently and compete for a championship," Davis' agent Rich Paul told ESPN. "Anthony wanted to be honest and clear with his intentions, and that's the reason for informing them of this decision now. That's in the best interests of both Anthony's and the organization's future."
Read more: Anthony Davis tells Pelicans he wants to be traded
Just a few hours later, the Pelicans posted a sponsored photo that highlighted "True Teammates" Elfrid Payton and Jahlil Okafor, with Davis noticeably absent. It was either a shot at Davis or a poorly timed promotion for a partner.
pelicansnba / Instagram
Poorly timed promotion? Or a shot at their departing superstar?
It is most likely that this is an unfortunate case of bad timing. The post was sponsored, which could mean it was scheduled in advance of the news Davis made in the morning. Additionally, Davis has missed the past four games with the Pelicans as he dealt with a finger injury, possibly explaining why Payton and Okafor were represented in the post.
Either way, the post didn't help to ease any tensions within the Pelicans organization, as fans made their feelings known in the comments.
The Pelicans can either move Davis in the next 10 days before the trade deadline or have him finish the season with the team and field offers during the offseason.
Unless a deal comes together for him fast, it feels like Davis will have an awkward end to his seven years in New Orleans.