Ricky the Celtics killer?

[Thndrblt31@aol.com]

If Boston really wants another guard, why not take a chance on Davis?

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Ricky Davis is next in line to leave
By Richard Walker, Photo by John Clark
Gazette Sports Reporter

Hornets head coach Paul Silas says he hasn’t given up on the future of 
20-year-old swingman Ricky Davis. But Davis appears to have given up on a 
return to Charlotte.

"I’m pretty much trying to get traded," Davis said following one of his 
Southern California Pro Summer League games. "I figured I can go somewhere so 
someone can see what I’ve got. I’m trying to get somewhere, where I can 
play."

Davis is averaging 32 points per game in the summer league that features six 
teams affiliated with NBA teams and four other teams. He’d hoped to play for 
the Sacramento Kings’ entry in the Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City 
before the NBA stepped in and told the Hornets they couldn’t "loan" Davis to 
the Kings.

"The league just said we couldn’t just have one guy play for their team," 
Silas said.

Silas said he understands Davis’ frustration, but says he still factors the 
Hornets’ 1998 first-round draft pick in his plans.

"I have nothing against Ricky," Silas said. "He’s still young and he has to 
understand that he’s got a chance to have a long career. But he’s got to 
handle it properly. He’s still got to understand that if he plays another six 
years in the league, he’ll be only 26 years old. So he’s got a lot of 
upside."

Davis fell out of Silas’ rotation last season after injuring his knee in 
training camp. He finished the season averaging 4.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.3 
assists and 11.9 minutes in 48 games. He did not play in the Hornets’ 
first-round playoff loss to Philadelphia.

"Ricky got hurt last year and E-Rob (Eddie Robinson) played and played well," 
Silas said. "Ricky came back and wanted to play more and it just wasn’t in 
the cards."

The year was tumultuous off-the-court as well, as Davis left the No Limits 
Sports agency owned by rap musician Master P and is now being represented by 
Los Angeles-based Dan Fegan.

So far this summer, after Davis requested a trade, he was offered to the 
Toronto Raptors in a package that would’ve reacquired Dell Curry for the 
Hornets.

The deal was turned down and it’s uncertain how much further the Hornets have 
pursued trading Davis.

Mid-Summer Nights

Hornets’ guards Ricky Davis and Baron Davis will be playing in the 15th 
Annual Mid-Summer Nights Magic game next Sunday at UCLA. The game will 
feature Gary Payton, Allen Iverson, Steve Francis, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, 
Antoine Walker, Shawn Kemp and others and benefits the Magic Johnson 
Foundation.