The Los Angeles Lakers might have an incredible opportunity to acquire a superstar just entering the prime of his career. Ever since New Orleans Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis requested a trade, the Lakers have been pushing hard to get a deal done. Or have they?
There is a lot of speculation in regards to what exactly the Lakers would have to give up in order to land the 25-year-old superstar. Many have wondered if the team would have to give up their entire core of promising, young players. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, it appears the Lakers could be trying to get a deal done while at least keeping Brandon Ingram.
in the Lakers first offer to the Pelicans for Anthony Davis, LA offered Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Rajon Rondo, Michael Beasley and a first-round pick, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 2, 2019
Rondo played for the Pelicans last season, so it would be interesting how he would receive being sent back to New Orleans, if a deal including him indeed gets done. But this certainly feels like the Lakers are low-balling the Pelicans with the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics seemingly out of the Davis sweepstakes until this summer.
Wojnarowski also added that the Lakers have yet to add multiple first round picks or the option of taking back salary from the Pelicans in any offers. This has reportedly led to the Pelicans not offering any counter offers thus far.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania also reports that the Lakers are attempting to get a Davis deal done without giving up their entire young core.
Sources: The Lakers have offered the Pelicans two of their talented young players — among Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Ivica Zubac, Josh Hart — with Rondo or Stephenson as core parts of a deal. For Pelicans, these have not been remotely serious offers.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2019
The Lakers are certainly trying to acquire Davis at the lowest possible price, as the big man has made it clear that he wants to be in Los Angeles. Davis’ camp has reportedly let it be known that anyone else that trades for him will only get him until the end of next season, when he can become an unrestricted free agent.
The NBA trade deadline is noon PST on Thursday. We could see these talks go down to the final seconds, as teams might be scared to offer a large quantity of assets for a potential rental. The Lakers are trying to take advantage of that, but the Pelicans can wait until the summer when they will have more suitors.
In order for the Lakers and Pelicans to get a deal done, one side will have to budge. Perhaps one will cave by Thursday’s deadline. If not, the Davis saga in New Orleans could be drawn out.
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