Los Angeles Lakers: Anthony Davis wanted to play in Los Angeles or New York

In a recent interview, Rich Paul confirmed that Anthony Davis wanted to go to the New York Knicks or the Los Angeles Lakers this summer.

Prior to the start of free agency, all eyes were on the Anthony Davis trade situation. The Los Angeles Lakers were believed to be the favorite to get him heading into the summer, and they did indeed get a deal done.

During the NBA Lottery, the Lakers received a huge boost, as they got the fourth pick in the NBA Draft. Even though the Lakers did not have a good season, it was certainly a surprise to see them enter the Top-5 of the Lottery.

On the other hand, the other team rumored to be interested in the Davis did not have a great Lottery night. The Knicks ended up with the third pick, which was certainly a disappointment after being the worst team in the NBA.

In a recent interview with Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Rich Paul discussed that it was either New York or Los Angeles for Davis.

"“[Davis] wanted to go to two places: New York or L.A,” Paul reflects. “After the Draft [Lottery], I was able to see where everything lies. The fact that [the Pelicans] were going to get the first pick caused me to understand, it softened the blow of losing Anthony Davis because the organization could still have some momentum.”Now, where he would go was up to who was going to step up and give the best offer.”"

With it being between the Knicks and the Lakers, it was certainly in favor of the Lakers being able to get Davis. With a comparable draft pick to offer this season and a better young core of talent, the choice was likely easy for New Orleans.

While Davis did end up with Los Angeles, seeing the Knicks being a preferred choice of his is somewhat surprising. New York is certainly one of the best basketball markets in the NBA, but they haven’t been able to pursue the big stars.

This summer did not go well at all for the Knicks, as they didn’t get Anthony Davis in a trade, and the biggest player they signed in free agency was Julius Randle. Even though the price was expensive for the Lakers, it was certainly worth it. Davis can be a cornerstone for the franchise for years to come and could help raise a few banners in the Staples Center.