ESPN, and a ton of sports media outlets are reporting that AD to LA is all but inevitable. Since before the deadline, I have been asking Lakers fans, what makes them think LeBron James and Anthony Davis would have great chemistry in Los Angeles together? What makes LeBron think this would be the case?
Also, why should New Orleans do LA a favor? if the Lakers did decide to gut their roster and potentially mortgage for what now seems like a lackluster roster anyway after the Lonzo Ball injury, and Brandon Ingram’s blood disorder revelation. Even if the Pelicans wanted what remains, which is Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart, and Draft picks, what proof have we seen that LeBron James can work well with other forwards?
Antwan Jamison? No, he ended up leaving for Miami.
Chris Bosh? Kind of, he tried to turn him into a shooter.
Kevin Love? No he turned him into a shooter.
It's a wonder to me why the Lakers weren’t targeting someone like Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, Kemba Walker, or Kyrie Irving from the very beginning. According to Rumboyz own Butcher’s Block report, LeB
ron and Kyrie have recently been spotted eating dinner together. So this may be their primary target going forward, and I believe Kyrie should be. The two have proven chemistry.
Besides that point alone, what’s the benefit to New Orleans trading AD to the Lakers? Why feed the Lakers ego by giving them what they’re asking for? What ESPN and other media outlets fed into? Who benefits besides the Lakers and ESPN?
The Knicks in what looks like an emotional move, pulled the trigger seemingly prematurely on a Kristaps Porzingis trade. In a perfect world, the Pelicans could have acquired KP and the Knicks 3rd overall draft pick for Davis, which would've given New Orleans a chance at Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett. Maybe the Knicks can still offer something better than Los Angeles, which would provide the Pelicans with two services. The first being getting value for AD, and the second being getting AD out of the western conference.
If New Orleans is serious about competing in the near future, they should not be interested in what the Lakers have to offer. Anything short of their entire young core; Kuzma, Ball, Hart, and Ingram if he can pass a physical, + 2 first round picks they should hang up the phone anyway.
The benefits of trading Davis to the eastern conference far outweighs the benefits of trading him to the Lakers, especially if they have any type of roster left after the trade. A team like the Celtics, may not be as interested because of recent comments by Anthony Davis’s father about Danny Ainge’s treatment of Isaiah Thomas. But I’d be surprised if Anthony Davis wouldn’t enjoy spending a year playing in Boston, so much that he’d sign long term, especially if they make a deep playoff run.
But if the Celtics are willing to roll the dice on Davis, they do still have valuable draft capital to offer. If it's somehow possible to get a combination of Jayson Tatum, Jalen Brown, draft picks and whoever from the Celtics with any type of draft capital for Anthony Davis and whoever, I think that is a much better trade for New Orleans than anything they can get from LA, New York, or possibly any other team. Jayson Tatum showed us in 2018 in the playoffs that he has the potential to be a franchise player, but seemed to struggle playing second fiddle to Kyrie Irving.
If the Celtics are willing to take the risk of losing Davis after the season, New Orleans should pull the trigger on that young core.
Another team that could want Davis is the Chicago Bulls. I don't know what Chicago would be willing to give up, but similar to New York, they have a top 10 pick at number 7. Davis is from Chicago and I'm sure the Bulls would love to land Davis.
The Raptors, who just made the NBA Finals could offer an attractive package of core players and draft picks in an attempt to try to keep both Kahwi and Davis, although I don't think that would be a well-advised move for the Raptors considering their strength seems to be their depth.
The point is that the New Orleans Pelicans, because of Anthony Davis’s public announcement, have a lot more leverage than the media is reporting.
I'm sure they aren't angry with Davis as he did give them 2 contracts.
I think this is a great opportunity for the Pelicans to form a core around players like Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown or Kevin Knox and both of the Duke Stars Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett.
New Orleans needs to collect young stars, give them the reigns, and watch a contender become formed in New Orleans for the first time.
Don't give the city that stole Chris Paul away from you another chance at stealing your star player, win this trade, and send him east.
Los Angeles is trying to use their fan base and media power to control the narrative, and suggest that New Orleans best offer is in LA, but there is some value in not letting the Lakers do this to a small market team, yet again.
