The New Orleans Pelicans are widely expected to be an active team in discussions as the Feb. 23 trade deadline nears. New Orleans has a mix of players, from Tyreke Evans to Omer Asik, Alexis Ajinca and even Jrue Holiday, that they have been open to dealing in the past.
With head coach Alvin Gentry focused on maintaining lineups that feature Anthony Davis as the center position, that leaves two names as the odd men out: Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca.
Asik, according to a recent report, is said to be “very much available” in trade talks. Ajinca, on the other hand, has yet to see his name in the rumor mill this season.
With a frustrated Ajinca being handed a less substantial role this season, he recently spoke out against the team, saying that the solution to the situation would be getting traded.
The following is an English google translation from basketusa.com:
Anthony Davis staggered to the pivot in New Orleans, Alexis Ajinça and Omer Asik are now nailed to the bench. The Frenchman has thus no longer entered the game for six games and he confides his frustration to L’Equipe.
“It’s very frustrating because I want to play, bring something to the team,” he says. “I worked a lot and got back into shape early in the season. It was noted by the coaches and the general manager.
And then it came overnight … At first, I was told it was stories of match-ups and then afterwards, I was a little forgotten. After that, when I play, it’s for five minutes and it’s hard to do a lot of things.”Now out of the rotation of the Pelicans, the 28-year-old pivot no longer deludes himself on his future in Louisiana. Still under contract until 2019, he knows well that his future must take shape elsewhere …
“The solution, it would be a trade, after if the club wants to make a buyout, we will see what they ask but normally it would be an exchange. I’m motivated because there are other teams watching me. So at all times, even at the warm-up, I try to go 100%. I have to stay very pro because everyone talks in the league. If a franchise inquires, they will ask how I behave when I do not play. So we can not have certain attitudes like being angry with the coach or others even if we are frustrated and annoyed.”
