The trade drama surrounding Anthony Davis just got more exciting. The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly sent an improved trade offer to the New Orleans Pelicans while other teams, most notably the Bucks, the Clippers, and the Knicks, have emerged as contenders to land Davis.
Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times reports that the Lakers sent an improved trade proposal for the Pelicans star Anthony Davis. The Lakers are now offering Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, Michael Beasley, and two-first round picks.
Landed in Indy; update on Lakers-Pelicans talks. Magic Johnson, Dell Demps talked twice today, per source. Lakers willing to give Pelicans cap relief for Anthony Davis by taking Solomon Hill for Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Ingram, Rondo, Lance Stephenson, Beasley, 2 1st round picks. — Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) February 4, 2019
Meanwhile, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, reports that in addition to the multiple players and draft picks included in the package, the Lakers also offered a salary cap relief to the Pelicans.
The Lakers have offered a new package to New Orleans that includes multiple young players, multiple draft picks and Pelicans salary cap relief for Anthony Davis, league sources tell ESPN. The offer appears to move closer to the objectives that the Pelicans are pursuing in a deal. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2019
The Lakers previously offered Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Ivica Zubac, and a first-round pick in exchange for Anthony Davis. The Pelicans, however, felt "underwhelmed" by the Lakers' offer. The Pels asked for another draft pick in exchange for a yet-to-be-named Pelicans player, seemingly in an effort to shed salary off their books.
It seems the Lakers didn't want to add another Pelicans player on their roster. And since the Pelicans look desperate to dump salary, the Lakers offered a cap relief to accommodate the Pelicans.
Clearly, it is in the Lakers best interest to complete the deal for Anthony Davis as soon as possible. If this drags on, other teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Clippers could creep in and steal the Lakers' prize.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletics and Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times, Davis' representatives have informed the Pelicans that the All-Star forward would sign a long-term deal with the Lakers, Knicks, Bucks, or the Clippers if Davis is traded there.
Can confirm that Anthony Davis’s representatives have told the Pelicans that the list of teams with which he would sign long term is: Lakers, Knicks, Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks, source said. All teams with another star or the capability to get another star. — Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) February 4, 2019
However, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Clippers haven't made an offer for Davis. The Clippers are poised to strike during the offseason as the Clippers have the assets and the cap space to lure superstars who are looking for supermax deals.
The Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks are among the teams on the new extended Davis list, league sources said. Still, Clippers are another team holding onto cap space and assets for summer free agency. So far, Clippers haven't made an offer on Davis, sources said. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2019
That being said, among the Bucks, Clippers, and the Knicks, New York would have the least chance of signing Davis as the Knicks have already traded their most valuable asset, Kristaps Porzingiz, to the Dallas Mavericks.
Sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium it's four-team list for Davis -- with inclusion of the Clippers and Bucks along with previous teams (Lakers, Knicks). The Knicks are unlikely, however, after moving Kristaps Porzingis to Dallas. https://t.co/Vh3l4XJ51t — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2019
Another ripple on the Lakers proposal, while it can be considered fairly minor at this point, is Lonzo Ball. LaVar Ball made it clear that he wants Lonzo to be traded to a team that doesn't have an established point guard.
Davis to LA may have hit a snag. The Pelicans want a bigger haul for Lonzo Ball going to Suns. Pelicans have asked for either Phoenix's Top 5 protected 2019 FRP or unprotected 2020 FRP. Phoenix does not want to give a first and has only offered Josh Jackson and a 2nd. pic.twitter.com/DI5SDsxWJ9 — Brandon Robinson (@ScoopB) February 5, 2019
The elder Ball recently stated that the best fit for his son is the Phoenix Suns. However, the Pelicans, who pushed the Lakers to include Ball in a deal for Anthony Davis, reportedly want a "bigger haul" for Lonzo to go the Suns.
Sports analyst Brandon Robinson reported that New Orleans has asked for Phoenix's top 5 protected first-round pick or an unprotected 2020 first-round pick. Meanwhile, the Suns reportedly don't want to give a first-round pick and have offered Josh Jackson and a second-round pick.
Again, Lonzo Ball has no control over the scheme of things as Ball is under team control. That being said, if he doesn't want to play for the Pelicans, then he becomes the Pelicans problem. And while the Lakers' new and improved trade proposal for Davis may be enough to ward off the Bucks and the Clippers, the Pelicans will need to find a taker for Lonzo eventually.
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