Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors involve point guard Lonzo Ball, whose camp does not want him sent to the New Orleans Pelicans in a potential trade package.
Los Angeles Lakers rumors have ramped up recently with Anthony Davis informing the New Orleans Pelicans that he would not be signing a long-term extension with the organization and was hoping to be traded.
Immediately, attention turned to the Lakers, who would love nothing more than to add a second superstar level player alongside LeBron James. Davis would fit that bill.
How serious is Los Angeles about trying to land Davis? The front office has already met to discuss potential trade packages to be put together. One player that would presumably be in any offers from the Lakers is point guard, Lonzo Ball.
Ball was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of UCLA. He has a sky-high ceiling thanks to impressive measurables and an out of this world basketball IQ. Despite the inconsistent shooting numbers, Ball impacts the game in a multitude of ways with his playmaking and defense.
The Pelicans are going to want as many young assets from the Lakers as they can possibly get. However, the feeling isn’t mutual.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Ball’s camp does not want him landing in New Orleans. Instead, they would prefer a third team get in on the trade talks and acquire Ball.
Preferably, Ball’s camp wants the team acquiring him to not have an established point guard already in place, which the Pelicans have in Jrue Holiday.
Sources: Should Lakers/Pelicans trade talks pick up, point guard Lonzo Ball's camp prefers Ball to be moved to a third team that doesn't have an established point guard.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 29, 2019
While Ball wants to land with a team that he can be the point guard, that could happen in New Orleans. Holiday said Davis was 90 percent of the reason why he re-signed with New Orleans. With Davis now looking on his way out, Holiday could soon ask for a trade as well to another team.
For now, Holiday is still entrenched as the Pelicans’ starting point guard. As a result, Ball’s camp would prefer he not land there in a trade.
Currently, Ball is dealing with a Grade 3 ankle sprain, which was suffered Jan. 19 against the Houston Rockets. He was given a 4-6 week timetable before returning, which means we most likely won’t see Ball return to the court prior to the All-Star break.
At the end of the day, Ball and his camp have very little say over where he ends up. If Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka think they have a good deal on the table to improve the team, they are going to do it.
This will be something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks. The Pelicans are in no rush to trade Davis, as he is still under contract for next season. However, as we have seen the last two years, players asking for trades will force their team’s hand. Will the same thing happen to the Pelicans? We will have to wait and find out.