What happened: On ESPN LA’s Mason & Ireland, Ramona Shelburne linked New Orleans’ reluctance to trade Davis partly to resistance toward Rich Paul, a Black agent, directing the franchise to make the move. She apologized the next day for oversimplifying the situation and apologized to the city.
Why it matters: Davis rejected racism as a reason for the hostile reception expected during his first return with the Lakers. The episode revisits tensions surrounding a trade request that became public in January 2019.
By the numbers: Davis played seven seasons for New Orleans before the trade. The NBA fined him $50,000 after Paul publicly disclosed the request.
What to watch: Any response from Shelburne or ESPN would become the next development.