I don’t personally believe Lebron James and Anthony Davis would have great chemistry in Los Angeles together and I don’t think New Orleans should send him to LA as he wishes.
Let me explain. I believe if the Lakers do decide to gut their roster and potentially mortgage their future for Davis it has a very high chance of blowing up in their face.
What proof have we seen that Lebron James can work with other forwards?
Antwan Jamison? No.
Chris Bosh? Kind of?
Kevin Love? They played better when they weren’t on the floor together.
It’s a wonder to me why the Lakers aren’t targeting someone like Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, Kemba Walker, or Kyrie Irving, someone who is proven to benefit from Lebron’s presence and adds something to it on the floor.
Besides that point alone, the Pelicans shouldn’t be in a hurry to let the Lakers try their chances this season with Anthony Davis and Lebron.
For one, what’s the benefit to New Orleans? Why feed the Lakers ego by giving them what they’re asking for? What ESPN and other media outlets fed into? Who benefits besides the Lakers in this situation?
I read that Dell Demps the GM of New Orleans wasn’t answering the Lakers phone calls and none of the offers the Lakers front office has given have not been prompted a counter offer, good for him.
Sadly for the Pelicans, the best potential trade in my eyes is now off the table I think.
The Knicks in what looks like an emotional move pulled the trigger seemingly prematurely on a Kristaps Porzingis trade. In a perfect world, the Pelicans could have acquired KP and the Knicks #1 pick for Davis, which would’ve given New Orleans a chance at Zion Williamson or RJ Barrett.
However, since that ship has sailed, the mainstream sports media is telling us that the Lakers and the Celtics are the only destinations.
The Pelicans are not in the playoff hunt, and still, have assets like Nikola Mritic and Jrue Holiday.
If New Orleans is serious about competing in the near future, they should not be interested in what the Lakers have to offer. Anything short of their entire young core; Kuzma, Ball, Hart, Zubac and Ingram, + 2 first round picks they should hang up the phone.
The benefits of trading Davis east far outweigh the benefits of trading him to the Lakers, especially if they have any type of roster left after the trade. A team like the Celtics, may not be as interested because of recent comments by Anthony Davis’s father about Danny Ainge’s treatment of Isaiah Thomas.
However, if the Celtics are willing to roll the dice Davis, they do still have valuable draft capital to offer. If it’s somehow possible to take for Dell Demps to get a combination of Terry Rozier, Jayson Tatum, and Jalen Brown from the Celtics with any type of draft capital for Anthony Davis and whoever, I think that is a much better trade for New Orleans.
Jayson Tatum showed us last year in the playoffs that he has the potential to be a franchise player. The Celtics to me look like they are giving the franchise to Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, or at least they are conflicted on it at the moment.
If the Celtics are willing to take the risk of losing Davis after the season, New Orleans should pull the trigger on that young core.
Another team that could want Davis is the Chicago Bulls.
I don’t know what Chicago would be willing to give up as far as young players like Wendell Carter Jr, and Lauri Markkanen. However, similar to New York, their 1st round pick is most likely going to be a lottery pick. Davis is from Chicago, and I’m sure the Bulls would love to land Davis.
The Raptors could offer an attractive package of core players and draft picks in an attempt to try to keep both Kahwi and Davis, although I don’t think that would be a well-advised move for the Raptors.
The point is that the New Orleans Pelicans, because of Anthony Davis’s public announcement, have a lot more leverage than the media is reporting.
I’m sure they aren’t angry with Davis as he did give them two contracts and the team doesn’t look like it has any sign of improving around Davis.
I think this is an excellent opportunity for the Pelicans to form a core around players like Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr., Jayson Tatum, and Jalen Brown or Kevin Knox and one of the Duke Stars. The possibilities are pretty good, and New Orleans doesn’t owe Anthony Davis, Lebron James, Rich Paul, or Magic Johnson any favors.
Collect young stars, give them the reigns, and watch a contender become formed in New Orleans for the first time. Build that Pelican brand on the backs of young assets, look the Suns, Mavericks, Hawks, and 76ers. Young cores that will be with the teams predictably for a long time.
Don’t give the city that stole Chris Paul away from you another chance at stealing your star player, win this trade, and send him east.
Los Angeles is trying to use their fan base and media power to control the narrative, and suggest that New Orleans best offer is in LA, but there is some value in not letting the Lakers do this, again.
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