The winners and losers of the Anthony Davis trade
Winner: New Orleans Pelicans
It’s not often a team trading away a top-five superstar in his prime can be considered a winner, but between the young players, the plethora of draft picks and the luck they already had in the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery, the Pelicans qualify here.
Losing a perennial MVP candidate doesn’t make the Pelicans a better team by any means, but with Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Zion Williamson, Jrue Holiday, this year’s No. 4 pick and more first-rounders to come, the new foundation has already been laid out, and it looks pretty darn tantalizing.
Pelicans potential lineup next season:
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) June 15, 2019
PG: Lonzo Ball, Elfrid Payton (FA)
SG: Jrue Holiday, Josh Hart
SF: Brandon Ingram, E'Twaun Moore
PF: Zion Williamson, Solomon Hill
C: Jahlil Okafor, Cheick Diallo
They also have No. 4 pick (Jarrett Culver, De'Andre Hunter?) and cap space
The Pelicans may not be done making moves either, as the No. 4 pick could be used to haul in more assets from a team hoping to move up in this year’s draft. Providing Zion with floor-spacing is still an issue heading into the offseason, but Ball and Ingram will have a chance to flourish as part of a young core in an up-tempo system. League Pass darlings, indeed.
Loser: New York Knicks
A week ago, the New York Knicks were considered frontrunners to sign Kevin Durant, land a star point guard like Kyrie Irving or Kemba Walker, and possibly even trade for Anthony Davis. Armed with the No. 3 overall pick, talented youngsters like Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox and Dennis Smith Jr., they had the pieces to either trade for AD or surround two max free agents with young talent.
Then Kevin Durant ruptured his Achilles, casting doubt around his future and opening the door to re-signing with the Golden State Warriors. Without a healthy KD carrying the Knicks banner into Madison Square Garden, the chances of landing Kemba or Kyrie shrink significantly, and now that AD is heading to his preferred destination in L.A., they have little chance of landing the Brow anytime soon.
Best scenario for NYK was Anthony Davis landing in BOS via trade & entering free agency in 2020. Davis will still test free agency, per his agent Rich Paul. But LAL has a year to sell him on the franchise before he has to make a decision. BOS seemingly was unwilling to deal Tatum https://t.co/tAhQWskV1N
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 15, 2019
It wasn’t outlandish to imagine a new Knicks core of AD, KD and Kyrie a few weeks ago. Now, it’s entirely possible they miss out on all three, along with the summer’s other crop of big names.