NBA: 4 potential trade packages for Anthony Davis
By Nick Crain
1. Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers have made many attempts at acquiring Anthony Davis over the past year. Prior to the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline, the Lakers offered a blockbuster deal that was turned down by New Orleans.
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
Now that the Lakers struck gold with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, they will have more leverage in a trade this summer. At the time of the trade deadline, their pick was not projected to be anywhere near the top-five.
The Lakers do not currently have the contracts to make a trade for Anthony Davis, but they will shortly after the draft. The No. 4 overall pick will make roughly $5.9 million in his first NBA season, which is enough to make this deal work.
(See the deal on ESPN’s NBA Trade Machine)
The Lakers’ potential package includes Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma — players that are young stars in the making while being able to make an immediate impact.
There have been reports that the Pelicans will not trade Davis to the Lakers, which would make things extremely tricky, but things can change — especially if David Griffin is unable to convince AD to change his mind about staying.
In a potential bidding war, the Lakers could offer a package as good as anyone, especially if they’re willing to throw another future first-rounder onto the pile.
Winners and losers of the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery. dark. Next
The Los Angeles Lakers may have to blow the New Orleans Pelicans away with an offer in order to finally acquire Davis. Will the Pelicans be willing to make a trade that sends Anthony Davis to the L.A.?