As the inevitable Anthony Davis trade appears to be coming sooner than later for the New Orleans Pelicans, can David Griffin pull off a blockbuster deal for superstar prospect Zion Williamson?
It wasn’t long ago, six-years ago to be exact, when New Orleans Pelicans Superstar Anthony Davis was the prize possession and consensus No. 1 pick in the months leading up to the 2012 NBA draft. In a class that was widely considered average at best, the entire Association knew Davis was the cream of the crop who possessed immense potential.
Sound familiar? If so, it’s because a similar situation is brewing at the top of the 2019 NBA draft.
Zion Williamson, the 6’6 285-pound Duke standout and recently selected John R. Wooden awardee, similar to Anthony Davis, is widely recognized as the can’t-miss prospect in his draft class. Williamson possesses a rare combination of size, speed, strength, and vertical leaping abilities that have left opponents and rival college coaches in awe. While each of the 14 lottery teams will vie to be in a position to draft Williamson, a potential superstar in the making, there is a chance he could be used as trade bait in a deal to New Orleans for a more proven commodity in Davis.
Williamson is, by all accounts, unlike anything the basketball world has ever seen, often described as a mix of several all-time greats including LeBron James and Charles Barkley. However, similar praise showers upon Davis, who many believe can challenge San Antonio legend Tim Duncan someday as the game’s greatest power forward if he can ever find postseason success. With Anthony Davis widely recognized as a franchise-changing superstar, and Zion largely viewed as the next big thing, there are several realistic scenarios in which the two stars could find their destinies intertwined.
The Pelicans announced former Cavaliers executive David Griffin on Friday afternoon as their new President of Basketball Operations. Look for Griffin, a proven negotiator, to aggressively pursue a potential deal for Williamson. Here is a list of lottery teams who could possibly look into trading Williamson to the New Orleans Pelicans in a blockbuster deal for Anthony Davis.
New York Knicks
The New York Knicks are a franchise that has no problem pulling off deals that snatch headlines. Whether it’s trading for the hometown kid Stephon Marbury in 2004 or gutting half the roster for Carmelo Anthony in 2011, the Knicks have rarely hesitated to make a big move under the ownership of James Dolan. With rumors running rampant that stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are strong possibilities for the Knicks this summer, the idea of trading Zion, along with virtually every other young talent on the roster for Anthony Davis cannot be overlooked.
The Knicks are a franchise that last won a championship in 1973. It would be wise for an organization marred by losing to deal for one of the game’s best players in Anthony Davis whose celebrity and stardom would only grow playing in Madison Square Garden. Should the Knicks indeed look into dealing for Davis, the starting price would be Williamson, Dennis Smith Jr., Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox, and draft compensation.
Los Angeles Lakers
Probably the most likely team to make a deal for Anthony Davis should they win the lottery would be the Los Angeles Lakers. Owner Jeanie Buss has a lot to manage after President of Basketball Operations, and NBA Hall of Fame point guard Magic Johnson decided to cut bait with the organization after 14 months on the job. The expectation would likely be trading the No. 1 pick along with several young players on the roster for Davis should they win the lottery.
With general manager Rob Pelinka’s spotty performance to date, along with LeBron James’ pressure to acquire more star power, the Pelicans could be in prime position to hit a grand slam in a deal with the Lakers. While it isn’t far-fetched to believe the Lakers would contemplate keeping Zion should they be in a position to draft him, James is an aging commodity who needs proven star power on the roster as soon as possible. At 34, James cannot wait for a young player such as Williamson to reach his potential.
Framework for such a deal would likely include Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, and Lonzo Ball.
Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers (Via Sacramento) currently have a one percent chance of landing the top pick in the upcoming lottery. So, while it is highly unlikely they land the No. 1 overall pick and the rights to draft Williamson, it isn’t impossible. Armed with a roster full of star talent, the 76ers would become major players for Anthony Davis’ services this summer should they win the lottery.
While 76ers general manager Elton Brand would be tempted to keep his fellow Duke Blue Devil Williamson, the wisest move for the team moving forward would be to package him along with Ben Simmons for Davis. Such a deal would create a dynamic big man duo of Joel Embiid and Davis — two superstars capable of changing the trajectory of a game on both sides of the basketball. Such a pairing would be unlike anything the NBA has seen since a young Duncan and David Robinson in San Antonio. Acquiring Davis won’t be easy, but any deal the New Orleans Pelicans agree to must start with Simmons and Williamson.
Chicago Bulls
Chicago is home for Davis and the Bulls organization has been yearning for a real face of the franchise since former MVP Derrick Rose’s knees betrayed him. Now, the Bulls are in a rebuild situation similar to the Pelicans, and there is a legitimate argument that it wouldn’t make sense in the long-term to deal for Davis. Ranking 25th overall in defensive rating (112.5), Chicago will look to improve in that area. What better way than acquiring a 2018 All-NBA defensive first team player?
Should the Bulls decide to pursue a deal, the front office would have to work a minor miracle if they would like to acquire Davis and create enough space to go after another star to pair with him. Current starting small forward Otto Porter signed a four-year $106 million deal last summer and is slated to make $27 million next season. With Davis remaining firm in his stance that he wants to play for a winner, the Bulls would have to sell more than a homecoming to convince him on staying long-term.
If the Bulls feel confident in their chances on building a winner around Davis, the framework for such a deal would have to start with Lauri Markkanen — the Bulls’ brightest young star.
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are another potential landing spot for Davis should they win the lottery. The franchise hailing in the nation’s capital has been stuck in mediocrity for a number of years and would certainly entertain the idea of pairing their star shooting guard Bradley Beal with Davis. While Beal and backcourt mate John Wall both have long yearned for another star player to join them, Wall’s contract makes such a big three virtually impossible. On top of that, Wall is currently rehabbing from an ugly ruptured left Achilles tendon injury in January that will likely sideline him for all of next season.
The chances are slim that the New Orleans Pelicans would take on Wall’s mind-boggling $170 million mega contract, but if it meant landing Zion, all possibilities are on the table. Look for the Pelicans to acquire major draft capital, along with either Beal or Wall in any deal for Davis.
Dallas Mavericks
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is known to be a shrewd negotiator and very aggressive in trade talks, most recently dealing Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, and two future first-round draft picks to the Knicks for coveted power forward Kristaps Porzingis, along with Courtney Lee, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Trey Burke. Outside of rookie sensation Luka Doncic and Porzingis, the Mavericks roster as currently constructed doesn’t appear to have the pieces to make such a deal happen for Davis. However, that certainly won’t stop Cuban from making an offer.
Should the Pelicans entertain Cuban and the Mavericks in any negotiations, trade talks must start with Williamson and Porzingis. The New Orleans Pelicans would love to acquire Doncic, however, Cuban would be out of his mind to deal the likely Rookie of The Year, even if it meant landing Davis. It gets trickier when you remember that Porzingis has already said he has no interest in re-signing with the New Orleans Pelicans and that he’s also in some potential legal trouble right now, but he’d still be the likely piece needed to make a deal with Dallas go down.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves were expected to make strides towards becoming serious contenders when now former President of Basketball Operations Tom Thibodeau was hired in 2016. Not only was Thibodeau’s tenure a failure, but he also set the franchise back considerably when he dealt Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and the seventh pick in the 2017 NBA draft, which turned out to be Lauri Markkanen for Jimmy Butler.
Now, the Wolves are trying to climb out of that hole, and while Zion Williamson could be the missing piece, a deal for Davis would allow them to pair him with star center Karl-Anthony Towns while also trading the disappointing former Rookie of The Year, Andrew Wiggins. Although Wiggins never had Zion levels of hype during his time at Kansas, he was hailed as one of the most prolific high school basketball players of all time and often received praise from NBA players including Laker legend Kobe Bryant, who described Wiggins as “a reflection of myself 19 years ago.”
Williamson would be an excellent get for the Wolves, but after a disappointing experience with Wiggins, the Timberwolves should be aggressive in trading the Duke sensation for a bonafide superstar in Davis. If the Pelicans engage in trade discussions, the Timberwolves would have to include Williamson, Wiggins, Dario Šarić, Robert Covington, and draft compensation.
Conclusion
One thing is clear; The New Orleans Pelicans won’t be short on suitors for Anthony Davis’ services, with the Lakers, Knicks, Celtics, and 76ers being likely trade partners should the ping-pong balls fall in their favor. If the Pelicans are successful in landing Williamson via trade, the burn of dealing Davis will be tolerable as it would give them a young star in Williamson to build around. With David Griffin now running the show in New Orleans, given his track record, it will be no surprise should Davis be moved before the NBA draft in June.
While Griffin hasn’t expressed his intentions as to when he will make a deal involving Anthony Davis, a late January discussion may give us intel on his thinking and what the New Orleans Pelicans can ultimately expect in return.
“If I was holding their cards, I would probably want to be in a situation where I got at least one young player that projected potentially to be a star,” Griffin said on NBA TV in late January. “Draft picks, an elite role player, [and] someone that could further the cause for us as a winner, because when you’re bringing young kids to the floor, you need those guys to galvanize a group.”
With the playoffs already in full swing, it won’t be much longer until we get to see how the NBA Draft Lottery shakes out. Soon after that, we can expect David Griffin and the New Orleans Pelicans to go all-in on finding the right Anthony Davis trade, perhaps one that lands them the #1 overall pick.