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NBA: The 5 ripple effects of the Anthony Davis Trade

By Adam Tayabali

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 27: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans handles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 27, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 27: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans handles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 27, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images /

The Los Angeles Lakers finally acquired Anthony Davis, sending a tremendous ripple effect across the entire NBA landscape.

Less than 48 hours after the conclusion of the NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers have made the first big splash of the 2019 off-season. Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers traded away young players Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and three first-round draft picks to the New Orleans Pelicans for Anthony Davis.

The first pick the Pelicans will receive is the No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, which is projected to be either Jarrett Culver or De’Andre Hunter. The Lakers are mortgaging their future in a similar risk the Toronto Raptors took with Kawhi Leonard last year.

If this upcoming season results in a championship, the Lakers will have no problem re-signing Davis to a long-term deal and would then have an MVP caliber player in his prime even after LeBron James’ tenure with the team ends.

If this season is another drama-filled year with little to no playoff success, AD could walk for nothing, LeBron could demand a trade and the Lakers could see themselves once again in a miserable rebuild.

Davis was honestly worth the haul, however. He averaged 25.9 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.4 blocks per game last season. He’s the best power forward in the NBA and is a dominant force on both sides of the ball.

He’s only 26 and entering the prime of his career. Similar to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal, he could become the next great Lakers big men to win championships in LA after spending time in smaller markets.

When a player of Davis caliber is traded, it affects the NBA landscape is so many different ways. It can alter the decisions of free agent players and front office executives alike in both the short and long term. Here are five ripple effects of the Anthony Davis trade to the Lakers.