Pelicans Rumors: Lakers emerge as favorites to land Davis

Here we go, things are beginning to heat up in the Davis trade demand saga. The Lakers have emerged as the favorites to land New Orleans Pelicans’ disgruntled star, but how should we feel about the situation?

Put your feelings about the Los Angeles Lakers to the side for just a few minutes, and let’s discuss what this news means for the New Orleans Pelicans. Well for one, this unfortunate saga in New Orleans basketball lore is finally coming to a conclusion. Anthony Davis has been just this cloud of despair looming around the organization since the end of January. There are some teams that fans would’ve liked to see emerge as favorites, but are now essentially out of the running. This thing started with the Lakers, it’s more than likely going to end there as well.

David Griffin and Trajan Langdon are not ones to let personal vendettas interfere with business affairs. If they truly believe the pest possible offer will come via the Lakers, they will take it. Trading away a player of Davis’ magnitude to an inner conference foe does come with its cons, but should they simultaneously weaken their own chances of success down the road by not trading him to Hollywood?

The Knicks have an appealing package, but they don’t have any established players in their hypothetical, the Lakers do. Mitchell Robinson did have an amazing rookie season, as evident by his 2.4 blocks per contest. But JaVale McGee averaged 1.9, Karl-Anthony Towns averaged 1.7, are either of these players considered elite defenders? No, the statistic may be impressive but that doesn’t instantly ensure that Robinson will emerge as a perennial All-NBA Defensive team member.

His offense at this point is extremely limited, but he’s also in the beginning phases of his development. He shot better than 60 percent, but that can be attributed to dunks and layups. Maybe he adds in some post moves or the ability to fade off pick and rolls and knock down open looks, or maybe he’s best suited for the late ’90s with his offensive dynamic.

Knox could be a promising wing, but the teenager has a long way to go. He often forces the issue—against not uncommon for his age—and puts up bad attempts. He could mature into a nice player, or do the polar opposite. The number three pick has immense potential, but beyond that, it’s a little bleak.

If they throw in Dallas’ unprotected pick in 2021, who’s to say its worthwhile? With Doncic and Porzingis leading the charge, it’s feasible to think that the Mavericks are going to get better in the next couple of seasons. There’s the 2023 pick, but it’s protected 1-10, which has value but it’s not exactly ideal. In the realm of optimism, these two picks could land in the latter stages of the first round and deteriorate in value. Or they do the complete opposite, who knows.

The Lakers actually possess some really awesome assets, whether we would like to admit that or not. Here come the Lakers fans in the comments rubbing it in our faces. Brandon Ingram does have his health concerns but should be cleared for play at the beginning of next season (via Dave McMenamin of ESPN). Before he went down with an injury, he was playing at an all-star caliber level.

The same could be said about Lonzo Ball. That game he went down against the Houston Rockets, in the Toyota Center no less, he was playing at his peak thus far in the NBA. He controlled the tempo and flow of the offense, but then his signature BBB shoes let him down. He’s already a great defender and the idea of Zo running out in transition with Zion Williamson should have Pelicans fans salivating at the mouth, that is if Griffin and Langdon are able to pry him from the hands of Pelinka and company.

Kyle Kuzma was another name that was made available in trade for the services of Anthony Davis back when the demand went public. He might not have succeeded as a small ball center in the Lakers “death lineup”, but he could be instrumental to success to a future lineup under the same moniker as a four with Zion manning that position. Kuz has to work on rebounding and his defensive intensity, but his scoring upside is well worth the trouble.

There’s the argument that the Lakers should just wait it out until the summer of 2020, after all, Anthony Davis had made it rather clear his intentions are to play there. But if you play the waiting game, you also risk losing out on one of the greatest power forwards of all-time entering the prime years of his career. LeBron James will be 35 in December, you really want to waste another season?

We don’t know how this trade is going to look until it happens. Until the “Woj bomb” hits the Twittersphere, all we can do is speculate. Could the Pelicans also negotiate for the 4th overall selection this time around in trade? It may have been made available in January, but that was before it became a high lottery pick.

Will there ultimately be a third team involved to get the trade done? David Griffin has been entertaining the idea to get the best possible return for Davis.

We’ve looked at what exactly the Lakers might offer in a previous article, which you can read here. The saga appears like it’s finally over, let’s just hope it brings about the best possible outcome for the team moving forward. If it does end up being the Lakers, our initial reaction might be one of disgust, but it could prove to be well worth it in the long haul.