3. They’ll have to beat out Boston (and others) to get Anthony Davis
Isn’t it weird, not to mention fitting, that every time the Lakers are trying to get to the next level in terms of winning championships, the Celtics always stand in the way?
This was true back in the day when Kevin Garnett demanded a trade around the same time Kobe Bryant did. The Lakers, like probably every other team, tried to get in on the Kevin Garnett sweepstakes in that turbulent summer of 2007, but in the end, Celtics GM Danny Ainge struck a deal with Minnesota executive Kevin McHale (his former teammate in Boston) to acquire Garnett for the NBA equivalent of selling a million dollar home in Santa Monica for $100,000 and a roll of used toilet paper.
Due to a confusing and obscure NBA rule, the Rose Rule, the Celtics are literally not allowed to have Kyrie Irving and Davis on the same team this season since both were designated players. The NBA does not allow a team to have more than one designated player on the roster. They can, however, do it this summer, assuming Irving does turn down his player option.
The Celtics have more young prospects than the Lakers (kinda). But most of all, they have more draft picks. The green and white can boast Sacramento’s first round pick (unless it is the number one pick), Memphis’ first-round pick (unless it’s in the top eight), the Clippers first round pick (unless it’s in the top 14) and their own pick.
I’m sure you know this, but draft picks are super valuable to a team that is trading its superstar, partly because whoever they become will be on cost-controlled contracts for a few years. This would allow New Orleans to remain competitive while keeping their salary cap situation in check.
It also helps the Celtics that they don’t play in the same conference as the Pelicans. Historically a team is reluctant to trade a superstar to a team in the same conference. Ironically, the one exception in recent memory has been the Celtics acquiring Kyrie Irving from Cleveland.
What if the New York Knicks get the first or second pick in this summer’s draft and are willing to package it in a deal for Davis? He could become the most celebrated athlete in the Tri-State Area since a gent named Derek Jeter. Besides, the Knicks already have Kristaps Porzingis, who is recovering from that unfortunate knee injury he suffered about a year ago, to team up with Davis.
The Lakers could avoid all of that by somehow coming up with a deal that New Orleans can’t refuse, without gutting their entire roster or leaving themselves devoid of cap space this summer that they could use to sign a couple of spry role players, instead of having to sign elderly men on minimum contracts to fill out the rest of the roster.
It won’t be easy, but surely it must be possible.