It’s not yet known whether the New Orleans Pelicans and their ownership group wants to deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. We saw talks break down between the two sides earlier this year pertaining to star Pelicans big man Anthony Davis.
Even after then-general manager Dell Demps was fired and replaced by David Griffin, reports surfaced that New Orleans’ brass did not want to deal with the Lakers.
Despite all of this, the Lakers continue to be linked to Davis. Given the young assets and draft picks they have, that makes sense.
According to Caesars in Las Vegas, the Lakers are now overwhelming favorites to land the All-Star in a trade.
Vegas certainly isn’t in it to lose money. This seems to suggest that the Lakers are indeed odds-on favorites to land Davis.
Any deal of this ilk would include Los Angeles sending youngsters Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball to New Orleans. In addition to that, the Lakers would select No. 4 overall for the Pelicans. They’d then move that pick in a Davis trade once July comes calling.
Unlike other contenders for Davis’ services, Los Angeles can’t pull off a two-team trade for Davis until free agency starts. That’s why we’re hearing report of Los Angeles attempting to get a third team involved.
With New Orleans slated to take Zion Williamson No. 1 overall in next week’s draft, any deal involving Davis would likely happen here soon.
Despite what they say publicly as it relates to a timeline for a trade, the Pelicans want to start the post-Davis era as soon as possible.
Los Angeles is joined by the likes of the Clippers, Celtics, Nets and Knicks as potential landing spots for the big man.