Davis is Out, But That's Not the Shocking Part

The Pelicans decided over this past weekend that they would shut down Anthony Davis for the rest of the season. Davis has a nagging shoulder injury and a knee injury. He will have surgery on his knee and surgery on a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Davis had an opportunity to earn an extra $24 million dollars thanks to the Derrick Rose rule. If a player on their rookie contract is an All-Star starter twice, named to any All-NBA teams twice, or wins an MVP award in their first four NBA seasons, that player can sign for 30% of their teams cap as opposed to 25%. Davis was an All-Star starter last season, but was off the bench for the All-Star game this season. He doesn't have an MVP and will not win the award this season. His only hope at making his $24 million bonus is that he makes one of the three All-NBA teams this season.

Now for the most shocking part of all this news. Davis has been playing with a torn labrum in his left shoulder for THREE YEARS. Davis has only been in the NBA for 4 seasons. It is mind blowing that the Pelicans organization would let him play with this injury for as long as he has. It's one thing to put off the surgery if he thinks he can help his team make a playoff push, but last year was the first season that the Pelicans made the playoffs with Davis. The only reason he is getting the surgery now is because of the knee surgery he has to miss time for. Also his team is a long shot for making the post season this year. 

Davis has been injury riddled for his professional career so far. He has yet to have a season playing more than 68 games. Davis is a special talent and at 22 he has yet to hit his prime. If the Pelican want to win with Davis leading the team their number one priority should be to make sure their franchise player is healthy. This really makes me question the Pelicans as a franchise. Jrue Holiday and Eric Gordon have not been healthy since arriving in New Orleans. This makes many question if Holiday and Gordon have been getting the right treatment. If the Pelican want to become a contender they must start taking these injuries much more serious because is ridiculous for a guy like Anthony Davis to be playing with a shoulder injury for three years.