New Orleans Pelicans center Anthony Davis (pictured above) has been a big name in trade talks this week. He requested a trade early last week (Courtesy of Creative Commons).
With the NBA’s trade deadline set for Thursday Feb. 7 at 3 p.m., teams are beginning to make significant roster moves and rumors have run rampant about who may be on the trading block.
Some of the most significant moves to date have been the New York Knicks trading center Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers trading forward Tobias Harris to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Despite these moves, the most trending topic during the days leading up to the deadline concerns a trade that has yet to happen.
Rumors have been swirling about a potential blockbuster deal to send New Orleans Pelicans’ center Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers after Davis requested a trade and stated Los Angeles was his preferred destination. The Pelicans seem reluctant to get a deal done, but the longer they wait the worse their return will be. It is in their best interest to get a deal done now and not in the offseason after the deadline has passed.
Los Angeles is looking to pair up Davis, a young NBA star, with their superstar forward Lebron James. The Lakers have already sent offers to the Pelicans in hopes of acquiring Davis. The first offer included Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson and Michael Beasley in exchange for Anthony Davis and Solomon Hill. New Orleans rejected this offer.
Los Angeles would then improve their offer by adding two first round picks to the already massive haul of six players. New Orleans would still reject this offer.
Los Angeles has since pulled out of trade talks explaining that it felt ridiculous to be bidding against themselves and wanted to receive a counter offer from New Orleans. There have been no new updates on the situation since then.
It is completely understandable for the Pelicans to ask for a slew of talent and draft capital in return for Davis, who is one of the league’s top five players. The problem is that Davis has made it clear that he wants to be traded and has stated he will only re-sign with a small number of teams. This brings down his value and makes it difficult for New Orleans to get the best possible offer for Davis.
Davis has put New Orleans in a difficult situation, but it is in the organization’s best interest to trade him now and not in the offseason. In the offseason, the Pelicans can field offers from more teams, but these teams are likely to offer New Orleans less for Davis because he has stated he will not re-sign with most teams.
So, as it stands, the second offer the Lakers sent to the Pelicans may be the best offer the team sees in return for Davis either now or in the offseason.
With the deadline approaching, time is of short supply. Despite the Lakers supposedly pulling out of conversations with the Pelicans about Davis, it is quite likely the teams are still communicating on some level.
If a trade for Davis happens it could be one of the biggest deals in league history and fans are excited to see what could happen if Davis is paired with James in Los Angeles. Hopefully the Pelicans come to their senses and make the best out of a bad situation.