Every time it appears as though the Los Angeles Lakers are nearing a trade for New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis, a new report seems to send it back the other way.
The LA Times’ Brad Turner recently reported that the Lakers had placed their godfather offer on the table, including their willingness to take on Solomon Hill’s contract with one year remaining.
According to Fletcher Mackel of WDSU, the NBC affiliate in New Orleans, the Pelicans are not expected to accept that offer right now, although some in the organization are in favor of it:
Pelicans source:
Right now Dell Demps (and Danny Ferry, who’s very much involved in all aspects of Anthony Davis trade situation) are NOT taking Lakers offer @BA_Turner first reported.
Some in Pels organization want LA deal.
I’m told NOLA believes it can get Tatum this summer. pic.twitter.com/JkFD4sMyBD
— Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) February 4, 2019
Things to note:
That some within the Pelicans organization want Dell Demps to take this offer is a good sign for the Lakers. It means there is enough internal pressure from within the organization, and perhaps from ownership, to make the deal happen before the trade deadline rather than prolonging the drama until the summer.
The Pelicans seem to be holding out for the Boston Celtics who may have the best potential offer but cannot trade for Davis right now because the Rose rule prevents he and Kyrie Irving (both signed to designated player extensions) from being on the same roster until Irving’s deal expires.
It behooves the Celtics to get the Pelicans to wait until July so they can get involved. But if Davis is not willing to commit to Boston long-term as has been reported, would the Celtics be willing to part ways with their best young player in Jayson Tatum? If so, then that might be the best the Pelicans can get. At that point, the Pelicans would also know who has the number one overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, an enticing asset that will be used to draft Duke stud Zion Williamson.
The Pelicans may be willing to take that risk by assuming that the Lakers’ offer for Davis will still be there in the summer. There have been reports that Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka would pull it and pursue other players in the summer but that is almost certainly posturing from the Lakers front office to get this deal done before the offseason.
