It seems as though trade talks between the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans are effectively dead with the Lakers pulling out of negotiations after numerous offers went unmatched by New Orleans.
As the trade has become less and less likely, some have put the blame on LaVar Ball and his comments on not wanting his son, Lonzo Ball, in New Orleans. While Lonzo has no say in where the Lakers would trade him, there has been some belief that his (or his camp’s) lack of desire to be in NOLA has turned off the Pelicans from trading for him.
According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, however, that line of thinking is not true:
If New Orleans wants more than that, there are also rumblings that the Suns could emerge as a third team for Ball—much to his father’s delight—possibly with T.J. Warren and a young player going to the Pelicans. However, a source with knowledge of the trade discussions said the Ball family’s desires have no bearing on how the Lakers or Pelicans will approach negotiations.
The Lakers would likely be open to bringing in a third team to appease the Ball family but if the Pelicans want the young point guard, they will get him. It’s more notable that the public comments from LaVar have not affected how the Pelicans have approached the Lakers’ trade offers.
Nevertheless, this may be all for nothing given the lack of traction on a trade just one day before the deadline.
