The New Orleans Pelicans Won the Anthony Davis Trade
The Future
Yes, the Los Angeles Lakers are contenders largely because of their addition of Davis, but beyond this season the future is unclear. Davis turned down an extension with the Lakers, but has consistently said he wants to re-sign. But until his name is on a contract, his future is still up in the air, and Davis could ultimately decide to take his talents to another team.
Even if Davis re-signs with the Lakers, their roster will still be populated with a whole bunch of players on the wrong side of 30, including LeBron, who will be 36 and heading into his 18th season in the NBA. The Lakers will have very little cap flexibility, no draft picks and not a single good player under the age of 25, unless you count the inconsistent Kyle Kuzma. The future is now for the Lakers and they pushed in all of their chips for a rapidly closing championship window. They are good, but they are old and will have to continue to rely on veterans on small contracts to fill out their roster.
The New Orleans Pelicans, on the other hand, are not only winning now, but have one of the youngest and most talented teams in the NBA. Williamson (19), Ingram (22), Ball (22), Hart (24), Hayes (19), Frank Jackson (21) and Alexander-Walker (21) not only give the Pelicans the league’s best young talent to build around, but are also assets in a potential blockbuster trade for a superstar. The Pelicans can be patient and let this team grow together, or they can try to make a move for someone like Bradley Beal, in which case they would be a contender as early as next year.
If the Pelicans can keep Zion, Ingram and Ball together, they have a chance to compete for titles for the next decade and there is not a team in the NBA with a better combination of young talent and assets.
Next. Ranking Zion against all rookies and sophomores. dark
Lakers’ fans are surely excited about this season and next, as they are title contenders who could bring home multiple chips, but they can’t help but look at the Pelicans and wonder what could have been. Both teams got what they wanted from the trade, but the New Orleans Pelicans’ chance to win now and well into the future makes them the big winner in the Davis trade.