The Lakers and Celtics are each engaged with the Pelicans in trade talks involving Anthony Davis, league sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
While the Lakers were unable to land Davis at the trade deadline in February, they continue to be viewed as a strong contender in the AD sweepstakes. Wojnarowski referred to them as the leader in the clubhouse during a SportsCenter appearance earlier this week, while Ian Begley of SNY.tv hears from a league source that the Lakers have made some progress toward a multi-team deal Davis deal.
According to Wojnarowski, the No. 4 overall pick in next week’s draft – currently held by L.A. – has been discussed as a trade chip that could help New Orleans acquire a high-level player in a multi-team deal. Wojnarowski had reported earlier this week that new Pelicans head of basketball operations David Griffin was exploring scenarios involving multiple teams in an effort to get New Orleans the sort of assets the team is seeking.
Marc Stein of The New York Times reports (via Twitter) that the Lakers have made both Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram available in trade talks for Davis, in addition to the No. 4 overall pick, which may be re-routed to a third team if a deal comes to fruition. Stein adds (via Twitter) that the viability of the Lakers’ offer may hinge on what kind of player that No. 4 pick could attract. If the Pelicans can get another player they really like on top of Ball or Ingram, it would help tip the scales.
It also appears possible that Kyle Kuzma may be a deal-breaker for the Pelicans. Los Angeles is trying to keep Kuzma out of any trade package, per Stein and Tania Ganguli and Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times (Twitter links). However, the Pelicans want Kuzma as part of the return for Davis if they make a deal with L.A., according to Ganguli and Turner, who say that the forward is the young Laker most coveted by the Pelicans.
In their full report, the Times’ duo even suggests that the Lakers may have the opportunity to keep the No. 4 pick if they include Kuzma in their offer, though it sounds as if they’d probably have to add other extra assets in that scenario. The Lakers are trying to exercise some level of restraint in trade talks, given their leverage as Davis’ preferred destination, per Wojnarowski.
As for the Celtics, they apparently haven’t been deterred by the public comments made by agent Rich Paul, who has made it clear that Davis would prefer to end up with the Lakers or Knicks and would just be a rental if he goes to Boston.
“They can trade for him, but it’ll be for one year,” Paul said of the Celtics and his client. “I mean: If the Celtics traded for Anthony Davis, we would go there and we would abide by our contractual [obligations] and we would go into free agency in 2020. I’ve stated that to them. But in the event that he decides to walk away and you give away assets? Don’t blame Rich Paul.”
While the Celtics remain in the mix, Ganguli and Turner write that Boston and New York may not be willing to gut their respective rosters in a trade for Davis, since they’re concerned about not having enough leftover talent to be legit contenders.
The Nets and Clippers are among Davis’ other potential suitors, but they haven’t been able to gather any traction in discussions with New Orleans, according to Wojnarowski.
No matter which team Davis plays for in 2019/20, he’s expected to reach free agency next summer, but his camp has strongly suggested that the odds of the All-Star big man re-upping with the Lakers or Knicks are much higher than they’d be with any other team.
If the Celtics or Lakers reach an agreement with the Pelicans on a trade for Davis, it wouldn’t be officially finalized until sometime after the new league year begins in July, notes ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter links). Boston isn’t permitted to acquire AD at all while Kyrie Irving is still on his current contract, and the Lakers wouldn’t be able to make salary-matching work at this point.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
If they traded ball they better be getting holiday or someone like walker
a third teams been mentioned as needed, prolly to take ball
They better not trade Zo.
Probably leveraging for a counter offer putting Kuzma on a pedestal so they can get AD for Kuz, BI, and pick
Pelicans have a chance to come out on top with this one! Don’t mess it up bro
They won’t. Their GM will be the smartest guy in the room is my guess. And he knows he holds all the chips in reality because Lakers HAVE TO GET AD and he knows that.
Why? They were top 4 team before injuries.
I’d like them to get this deal done, but would be fine with them going into 19 with similar roster and fingers crossed on health.
LeBron got hurt on Christmas Day. Entering that game they were in a three way tie for the 8th best record in the NBA. The Pacers had a better record by 2.5 games, and their season was also derailed by injuries. Fortunately for them their best player isn’t in his mid 30s with a zillion miles on his body. The Pacers don’t NEED Davis. The Lakers are not even close to contending as currently constructed. They need more talent, and a trade looks like the only way it’s going to happen. If they get nothing LeBron’s career ends with a whimper.
Top 4 in the West. Sorry didnt clarify.
I’m a big Celtics fan and I’ve wanted them to get AD for a while now… but given the VERY public comments that he won’t resign and the great cost it’s going to take to get him I’ve got to say I’m a bit more than a ‘little’ worried about them giving up too much in hopes they’ll be able to change his mind. I mean giving up Tatum + a handful more with the possibility of losing him at the end of next year really makes me nervous.
True but look at Paul George and most likely Kawhi. Once he gets there he might love it.
Yes….. And that’s why the NBA Players association will put heavy pressure on Kawhi and AD to relocate if the trade doesn’t go his way. At the end of the day, it’s the players choice! However you have to also look at the long term health of your team. NO already has issues drawing free agents, if you let this saga continue or trade him to a destination he doesn’t want, that problem will only increase. It’s the same when a team trades a major player that doesn’t want to be traded. You’d have to blind not to see the Isaiah Thomas trade is part of why AD doesn’t want to go there.
It’s going to be costly either way. I don’t Ainge giving up Tatum without a yes from AD and KI.
Both of those teams were in a completely different position. Oladipo was on a big $ contract and wasn’t working out in OKC. The Raptors had a ceiling with DeRozan, who also had a big contract they didn’t want. Both of those teams could justify the risk of their newly acquired star walking after one season. If the Celtics were trading Rozier and/ or Hayward for AD the situation would be more similar. Trading Tatum is another thing.
Celtic, Knicks, whoever….just not the Lakers. Davis wants it. The Lakers want it. Too bad, so sad.
Hater
He’s def going to Lakers lol
When Rich Paul speaks about himself in the third person it really makes me hate him a LOT more. I don’t like agents at all. But Paul seems to be the worst of the worst.
He’s just an accidental agent whose main qualification is being LeBron’s besty. I actually don’t blame AD for trying to get where he wants to go (although lord knows why he wants to go there). That’s fine and what every employee can do no matter what their job is. But if this is more about Rich Paul and LeBron James manipulating a naive, not that bright, but insanely talented 26 year old man-child, that’s no bueno.
He wants to come here for the same reason the Lakers are still one of the top two relevant teams even though they have sucked the past 6 seasons. People just can’t stop talking about them. I think hate driven jealousy myself
Nobody is jealous of the Lakers. Only Lakers fans believe everyone wants to be a laker.
16
Really? A near homeless guy who became one of the richest most powerful agents thru hard work and connections is the worst?
Pretty sure he’s the best and best story too.
growing up as a mavs fan, i hated the spurs. they would always beat us. but then mavs started to suck and i started to respect the spurs and i didnt have any team to hate which made the nba kinda boring for me…. then the warriros came and i HATE them. what i am trying to say is, you want AD to go to the lakers so you can hate them. lol. if there is no team to hate, then you get kinda bored
No offense, but you might benefit from some therapy.
Clipps sneek in the deal flipping a pick and player to NO and AD heads to the Lakers. Clipps pick up Ball and Kuzma…
Lol
On cue, the Celt’s fake offer is being worked on, for presentation (to the media through high level sources) before the weekend is over.
What in Ainge’s history as a GM/PBO suggests he would trade a bucket of assets for a self-proclaimed rental-?
I just thought of something. What would happen if New Orleans just kept AD and played him about 48 minutes a game for the entire season? If you are only going to get him for that one contractually obligated season, then you might as well run that horse into the ground.
I know that’s what I would do if I were Boston and acquired him for one year.
The player has to actually be willing to do that lmao
His agent said that his is willing to honor his contractual obligations. There are unlikely any clauses in the contract that cap his minutes per game.
Play every second of every game? Yeah AD will do that
Davis gets hurt and Zion refuses to play knowing the team could do that to him too
Refuse to play because the team plays someone else too much? The Pels could suspend him without pay for that kind of violation and continue doing it for the remainder of his contract. I really don’t think he would give up his career for that kind of stance, but kudos to you if you would.
The coach can put a player in for 48 minutes, but the coach can’t make that player run up and down the court. These are real people it’s not a video game.
Teams have reputations, if you treat a superstar poorly other players will take notice. It’s already hard for the Pelicans to draw in free agents and convince players to stay, it would be near impossible after a stunt like that.
Ainge is Bluffing to keep the deal High. Holliday is his prize from Griffin for Kuzma from the Lakers.
The Lakers better not move Kuzma.
Let him go to the disaster that is the Lakers. Then we never have to hear from him in the playoffs again :) Go Celtics! Keep Tatum and Brown! Kyrie? Don’t let the door hit you too hard!
Imagine thinking LAL with Lebron and AD aren’t a playoff team.
4th place, game and a half out of first when LBJ went down. LBJ plus AD is definitely a playoff team! Could they beat a healthy GS with Steph, Klay, KD, and Green healthy? IDK. But looks like they won’t have to face that.
Imagine making Kuzma your hill to die on. Yikes, what a terrible FO.
Reading that washington might be 3rd team….
Lakers receive: Anthony Davis
Washington receives: lonzo ball + 4th pick
New orleans receives: bradley beal + brandon ingram + 9th overall (washington)
Fundamentally this trade makes new orleans much better. Imagine a lineup
Jrue
Beal
Ingram
Zion
Bol bol (9th pick)
Wow!
Why in the world would the Wizards do that? You are trading Beal for moving up 5 spots in a weak draft and a probable back up PG to your star player after the first year. It’s not like Wall is going anywhere and the Wizards are not just going to release him and eat $100 million plus. So why would the Wiz want Lonzo?
Um beal and wall dont work and beal is going to make 25 million for the next few years.
I like it. Works for everybody.
Lonzo can also play anywhere 1-3 with his length.
In Europe maybe…
They do that to try and improve the team . Not like wall and Beal are working together. They get ball who they love and can replace wall next season..than they get a better pick plus they save about 15mill+ by trading Beal
How are Beal and Wall not working together. They made the playoffs 4 out of the past 6 years. Yes, they kind of flopped a bit this season, but injuries to Wall and Howard played a big part there and the Otto Porter trade hurt more than expected. So it wasn’t really Beal and Wall not working well together, it was Beal and Tomas Satoransky not working well together.
That’s a crap trade for WAS. Essentially Beal for Lonzo given how unpredictable this draft is after #3. This is not the draft to give up such a prize to move up 4 slots.
I could see a 3 team deal with the Celtics, Rockets, and Pelicans. Celtics getting Capela, Rockets getting AD for one year run with Paul and Harden, and the Pelicans getting picks + Gordon and Brown. Money has pulled off crazier stuff
Morey*
Towinagain…. aint no way Lonzo and his family are any part of any organization Jerry West is associated with.
The Celtics are only in it to drive up the price for the Lakers. With Anthony Davis rumored not to stay in Boston, why would the Celtics give away a young core for one year of Anthony Davis?
Spurs can easily be the third team. Deal is hidden in plain sight:
LAL—> AD
SAS—> 4th
PHX—> Ball
NOLA Nets:
– Derozen (established player)
– Ingram (rising star)
– 6th
If NOLA demands another pick, tack on 19 from SAS to their ledger and Kuzma to SAS ledger.
Yea but rumors have it they don’t want to try kuz so why would they do that trade
Nola has also said they view BOS as having the best assets. It depends if. Really bidding war gets going, as this reporting infers.
If the Pels are looking at flipping #4 for a player. Probably could swing a Wiggins trade. Other possible gettable players… Capela? Aaron Gordon? TJ Warren?
Is that better than Culver or Reddish? Is that better than RJ Barrett at #3 from NYK?
I think point is that they want the pick AND a player like that (except Wiggins, gross). That’s why it feels like a first step in all of this is for LAL to flip Ball for #6, so they can toss 4 and 6 at NOLA in addition to One of their guys players. Then Pels can discuss flipping one of those for an established player.
Heard on the Jump they were shopping the value of #4 to land a player + take Kuzma/Ball/Ingram.
Don’t forget when you trade for Lonzo, you also get Levar and probably a stipulation that you sign at least one of his brothers to you G League team.