Anthony Davis To Finish Season With Pelicans, Lakers Move In Summer: Report

The NBA trade deadline – February 7 – is fast approaching and speculation about Anthony Davis’ future with the New Orleans Pelicans has become the most discussed topic in the NBA at the moment.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been heavily linked with a move for the power forward with multiple reports indicating that Davis is the only player they will consider for a mid-season trade as they do not otherwise want to compromise their cap space, which will allow them to sign a big free agent in the summer.

Davis is contracted to the Pelicans until the summer of 2021, but he can opt out of the final year and become an unrestricted free agent in 2020. He is committed to the team that drafted him in 2012, but their lack of competitiveness has seen the forward cut a frustrated figure at times this season.

The New Orleans franchise are currently 12^th in the Western Conference and are outsiders to make the playoffs this season. That has severely put Davis’ chances of remaining with the team in jeopardy with many claiming that he could leave before the deadline.

However, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Davis’ agent Rich Paul, who also manages LeBron James, has reportedly informed the NBA Insider that it is unlikely he will leave before the end of the current campaign. But there are no promises given beyond the trade deadline, which means a summer move could be on the cards.

"Rich Paul, Anthony Davis' agent, told me they have not had any real substantial discussions about Anthony's future in New Orleans with the Pelicans," Wojnarowski said on ESPN's NBA Countdown Wednesday, as quoted on RealGM.

"Anthony's focus has been on.. the playoff picture. There's no promises about his future beyond the trade deadline. It's safe to say right now, I think he'll be there beyond the trade deadline,” he added. "New Orleans does not want to trade him. They will have to be forced into doing that."

Davis will be eligible for a supermax contract worth $239 million this summer and the Pelicans are expected to make the offer to the five-time NBA All-Star. But according to Fox Sports’ Chris Broussard the power forward will down the offer, which will force the Pelicans hierarchy to consider a trade rather than lose him as a free agent in 2020.

By offering him in a trade deal, the New Orleans franchise can get some assets in return and begin a rebuild as he will leave a massive void within the playing squad. And the NBA expert believes it will be a cordial parting of ways with Paul leading the negotiations and it is expected that he will indicate to the Pelicans that Davis’ preferred destination for a trade is the Lakers.

“This summer New Orleans is going to offer Anthony the supermax contract, and he’s going to reject it,” Broussard said, as quoted by the Express. “They’re going to realise that he’s not staying, if he’s not taking the supermax then we’re going to have to trade him.”

“Anthony’s not going to be the bad guy. His agent Rich Paul, also LeBron’s agent, will talk to New Orleans and be like ‘he’s not going to stay long-term, he’s given it seven years and you haven’t won, he wants to win’,” he added. “Okay, where does he want to be traded? The Lakers.”

The Lakers have a number of talented young players they can offer to sweeten the deal, but are certain to face competition from the Celtics, who are also long-time admirers of the forward. And the Boston franchise also have a raft of talented players and draft picks to offer as part of a trade package.