Update: The Lakers have reportedly given their offer to the Pelicans which includes taking on Solomon Hill’s contract and giving away their treasure trove of assets, according to the LA Times’ Brad Turner:
Landed in Indy; update on Lakers-Pelicans talks. Magic Johnson, Dell Demps talked twice today, per source. Lakers willing to give Pelicans cap relief for Anthony Davis by taking Solomon Hill for Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Ingram, Rondo, Lance Stephenson, Beasley, 2 1st round picks.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) February 4, 2019
According to Turner, the Lakers are now waiting on the Pelicans who may not be able to get a better deal before the deadline and would have to wait until the summer to get more teams involved.
Turner now adds that the Lakers would use the stretch provision to waive Hill and free up some more cap space.
Original story follows:
The Anthony Davis trade rumors are continuing to heat up as Thursday’s trade deadline approaches. Earlier on Monday, it was revealed that Davis has informed the New Orleans Pelicans that the list of teams he would be willing to re-sign with include the Lakers, Knicks, Clippers and Bucks.
Now it appears as though the Lakers, already in the driver’s seat in the race to get the superstar big man, are moving ever closer to getting their prized target.
Following from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski:
The Lakers have offered a new package to New Orleans that includes multiple young players, multiple draft picks and Pelicans salary cap relief for Anthony Davis, league sources tell ESPN. The offer appears to move closer to the objectives that the Pelicans are pursuing in a deal.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2019
Lakers president Magic Johnson and Pelicans GM Dell Demps have had multiple conversations today, league sources tell ESPN. There's no sense how much progress sides have made progress toward a possible trade, but the Lakers have absolutely gotten more serious in the discussions. https://t.co/R84Aetv9n3
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2019
It’s not currently clear what the package for Davis would include although there are signs that a third team may be involved. The Lakers have reportedly reached out to the Chicago Bulls about a trade that would send Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Windy City for Jabari Parker.
The Celtics, who have been the rumored destination for Davis for years, seem to be completely out of the running in the sweepstakes given Davis’ lack of desire to stay in Boston.
The Clippers and Bucks likely do not have enough assets (and the Clippers have not made a formal offer) while the Knicks traded away their top asset last week, although they are among the favorites to land the top pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
The Lakers and Pelicans have been in negotiations for Davis since early last week.
