Anthony Davis Trade Rumors: Lakers Assets Disappointing, Compared To Celtics

Anthony Davis made it clear that he values legacy more than money and the former is built by winning titles either with one team or multiple teams in the NBA. The New Orleans Pelicans are currently 12th in the Western Conference and have not challenged for the title during the forward’s seven seasons with the team.

The five-time NBA All-Star is contracted to the Pelicans until 2021 but can decline player option for the final year and become an unrestricted free agent in 2020. However, he will be eligible for a supermax contract this summer worth over $240 million, but is expected to turn it down in order to have a chance to join a team that can help him win an NBA championship.

The Pelicans hierarchy could decide to put him for trade in the summer as they will not want to lose him for nothing in 2020. This summer they can get some good assets from interested franchises for a player that will be in high demand.

The Los Angeles Lakers are said to be leading the chase for Davis’ signature and are said to be willing to part with some of their young talent, namely, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball to beat off competition from other teams.

The Boston Celtics are touted to be their main challengers for Davis this summer and NBA expert Colin Cowherd believes they have better assets to offer than the Lakers. Especially because Ingram has been disappointing this season and Ball is injury prone.

The Celtics have a packed young roster with the likes of Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown, while few reports say Gordon Hayward could also be made available. Moreover, they could also be in possession of four draft picks come the summer something the Pelicans could be interested in considering they will have to do a rebuild to fill the void left by Davis.

“Anthony Davis is in a losing franchise, but he’s a great player, we all know that,” Cowherd said on the “Herd with Colin Cowherd”. “Davis is represented by Klutch Sports, which represents LeBron. In order to get him, rather than wait a year and a half, the Lakers will need to trade for him. The Celtics are also interested. And the Celtics have a lot of parts."

“When the season started, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram were real assets. Ingram has been one of the biggest disappointments, and Lonzo Ball, you have to say it, he’s injury prone,” he explained. “So you have two assets that now, New Orleans won’t want. Boston still has two assets.”

Yahoo sports’ NBA insider Chris Haynes, who was a guest on the show with Cowherd, however, believes that the Pelicans will not think about trading Davis, as he is too precious for them on and off the court. He feels if any trade has to take place in the summer it has to come from the power forward’s camp.