Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors involve potential trade packages for Anthony Davis, as the team has reportedly made some players available.
Los Angeles Lakers rumors have picked up in recent days as Anthony Davis trade talks have heated back up. Los Angeles failed at the NBA Trade Deadline to acquire the New Orleans Pelicans’ star, but they have gotten back into the game.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Lakers have officially engaged the Pelicans in trade talks centered around the former Kentucky big man.
An old rival has joined the fray as well, as Wojnarowski reports that the Boston Celtics are also engaged in trade talks for Davis. The teams are working independently to acquire Davis, not working as part of a three-team deal which is rumored to be what the Pelicans are looking for.
As Wojnarowski notes, the No. 4 overall pick is what is being dangled by the Lakers in trade talks.
To be clear, of course: The Celtics and Lakers are trying to negotiate independent deals with New Orleans for Anthony Davis. There's no spirit of cooperation here. The Lakers No. 4 pick would be used to acquire Davis in a multi-team deal that does NOT include Boston. https://t.co/C9NwYJiObX
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 12, 2019
However, it will take a lot more than just the No. 4 overall pick in what is considered a three-prospect draft class to land someone of Davis’ caliber. Now, we have some insight to the negotiations courtesy of Marc Stein of the New York Times.
According to Stein, the Lakers have made Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball available in addition to the No. 4 overall pick.
The Lakers have made Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and the No. 4 pick in the June 20 draft available in trade talks with the Pelicans, league sources say. New Orleans has made it known it hope to assemble a three-teams-or-more deal before surrendering Anthony Davis
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 12, 2019
This is a shocking development for a few reasons, the first being who is absent from that tweet. Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart, two of the other members of the Lakers’ young core, are surprisingly absent.
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According to Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers do not want to include Kuzma in the trade. However, the Pelicans want him included.
Back in February, Lakers’ management was ready to trade all four of those players, Ivica Zubac, Rajon Rondo and Lance Stephenson to make things work with a multitude of picks. As Hart put it in a recent appearance, essentially everyone was on the table except LeBron James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
If the Lakers stick to their guns, the Pelicans made a huge mistake at the trade deadline in February not taking the deal. They were under the impression that the deals would improve come the summer, but that has yet to materialize.
This will be something to keep an eye on as David Griffin, the Pelicans’ executive vice president of basketball operations, wants to get a deal done as soon as possible. Expect a Davis deal to get completed prior to the NBA Draft next week.