The Anthony Davis trade continues to look great for New Orleans, according to Christian Clark of NOLA.com, who writes that the Lakers‘ failures will be the Pelicans‘ successes for at least two more years.
After receiving Los Angeles’ first-round pick in 2022 and using it to draft Dyson Daniels, New Orleans has swap rights with L.A. in 2023 and will get the Lakers’ first-rounder in 2024 (with the option to defer it to 2025). Given the way the Lakers have been playing, that means the Pelicans could have at least one more lottery pick headed their way, even if they make the playoffs.
In addition to the draft picks the Pelicans secured in the Davis trade, Brandon Ingram has turned into an All-Star caliber cornerstone for the organization. Plus, Josh Hart – who was part of the Davis blockbuster – was a key piece of the outgoing trade package in the 2022 deadline trade that sent CJ McCollum and Larry Nance to New Orleans.
The Pelicans will visit the Lakers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena.
Here’s more on the Pelicans:
- The Athetic’s Mike Prada, Jovan Buha, and Will Guillory also revisited the Davis trade, debating whether it can be viewed as a successful deal for both teams, given that the Lakers won a title with AD in 2020.
- Pelicans forward Herb Jones appears to be ready to return to action after missing three games due to a hyperextended right knee. He has been listed as probable to play in Wednesday’s game in Los Angeles.
- Naji Marshall, who is on a minimum-salary contract that runs through 2023/24, has been an important contributor for the Pelicans with Jones and Ingram sidelined as of late, Clark writes for NOLA.com. Marshall has scored 15 points and shot at least 53.8% from the field in each of his last three games, all starts. “Naji’s a dog, but he’s also very coachable and from a teammate perspective, like if you tell him, ‘Naj, maybe you should do it like this,’ he’s not gonna fight you on it,” Zion Williamson said. “He’s just gonna go out there and he’s going to do what’s asked of him. You love to have players like that on your team.”
- In a Q&A with Mark Medina of NBA.com, CJ McCollum discussed his adjustment to a point guard role, how he’s dealing with a sprained finger, and where he thinks the Pelicans fit in the Western Conference pecking order. “It’s the Warriors and everybody else,” McCollum said, adding that New Orleans still has “a lot we have to learn and improve” after losing in the first round of the playoffs last season.
Looks good from the Lakers perspective too they won a title.
*Bubble title that no one thinks is a real title.
I think it’s a title. I am someone. I am also not a Lakers fan. Proof by contradiction
*Actual title that haters try really hard to discredit just because their teams didn’t win.
They’ve got 18 more titles than New Orleans. Enough said
You misspelled “A title that only cynical Lakers and/or LeBron haters discredit while those that have a shred of hoops knowledge realize was won under perhaps the most challenging and unique set of circumstances”
Wow guess I don’t exist then.
No just whiny people like you. I’m a Celtics fan and I don’t make excuses for the Lakers winning, they won enough said.
The Lakers got their title, and they likely could have remained competitive, but then LeBron and Co. HAD TO HAVE a “Big Three,” and that is truly what has cost this team dearly.
Their lack of depth can easily be solely contributed to the Westbrook trade, and it was just a really bad mistake.
Hopefully they can get out from under their mistakes and come out on top, but they’re going to need to cough up a first Rounder or two..
Unless I’m mistaken, they got a banner, trophy, and championship rings, so it sounds really to me. The hate is strong. I agree the Westbrook trade was a huge mistake, but the thought made sense, as they wanted protection against AD’s brittleness. They were fooled by the last two months of his stay with the Wizards when he singled handily carried them to the playoffs. He’s gone after the season one way or the other; they might have one more year to get this thing together before Bron falls off the cliff.
It’s less that they were fooled and more that Westbrook was never a good fit in LA like he was in Washington. He’s great when he’s got the ball and is leading a fast team (and has a great off-ball guard like Beal), but the Lakers have too many ball-dominant players and are slower. Shows just how much fit truly matters.
*real
New Orleans, lol. When the ever win anything, then let’s talk.
For the Lakers
Wemby has been traded but Westbrook has not
Why?
Pelicans look better on paper. Lakers look better in the rafters.
Still argue clippers trade for pg13 was worse esp if Kawhi is forever comprised! Sga might be even better then Ingram and the clippers gave up five first 3 unprotected and two pick swaps ! Clippers have nothing to show for it yet and aren’t exactly young with a long window
LAL was willing/able to sign LBJ as a UFA. After that, they really had no choice but to aggressively pursue AD when he was available and they led his target list. I hate only the dealing of remote unprotected 1st’s and swaps. It’s become pretty standard since that deal and the PG13 trade. I think it’s a reckless practice, but it wasn’t a LAL idea, specifically.
Everyone quick to comment how great the deal was for the lakers and discrediting the Pelicans for their lack of success.
I think it’s been a terrific deal for both sides.
Pelicans had a solid team with 1 truely elite player in AD. They just cashed in on what they had to do a rebuild. Got a haul for AD, traded Holiday, Boogie got injured and left and stuff.
Now they have Zion Ingram CJ Herb etc etc etc still more picks to come in the future aswell. What they had pre AD trade wouldn’t have ever won them a title and now they are in a better position to win. Obviously for the lakers it was great they won a title no one can take that away from them.
I just think we don’t need to pick a winner and loser from this deal. Nor do we need to discredit either team. Lakers won a title, Pelicans have done a rebuild and have a really good foundation to build success.
Nicely put.
LAL are the clear winners so far, if NOP wins a championship, then we can talk about it, right?