The Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans are in negotiations for a blockbuster trade that would send Anthony Davis to LA, according to multiple reports.
Indications are that a deal would have to involve multiple teams in order to occur and as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reports, finding a third team seems to be the current step that the two teams are operating on.
According to Windhorst, the Lakers and Pelicans already have a “framework” for a trade done and are waiting on the Pelicans to find another team to take the Lakers’ fourth overall pick in exchange for an All-Star.
Windhorst says the Lakers and Pelicans have a framework for a deal and NOLA is shopping the 4th overall pick for a star. pic.twitter.com/esEErTmZPC
— Lakers Outsiders (@LakersOutsiders) June 12, 2019
Meanwhile, the New York Times’ Marc Stein is reporting that Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, as well as the pick, are all on the table for the Lakers. The LA Times’ Tania Ganguli reports that they are reluctant to part ways with Kyle Kuzma, however.
As the New York Knicks have seemingly been unable to come up with a package to the Pelicans’ liking, the Lakers and Celtics seem to be the only teams currently in the running. Boston, however, was dealt a blow earlier in the day when Rich Paul confirmed that Anthony Davis would be a rental if he were traded there. With no guarantee that Kyrie Irving will re-sign, it’s not clear how much the Celtics would be willing to part ways with.
The Lakers will have to balance that leverage with their desire to get a deal done quickly as an additional way to lure a third star in free agency.
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