Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis has requested a trade from New Orleans Pelicans. In this picture, Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans sits on the bench with an injury in his finger during the game against the Detroit Pistons at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 23, 2019. Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Anthony Davis’ impending trade is the most discussed topic in the NBA at the moment with everyone guessing where he will end up either before the trade deadline on Feb. 7 or in the summer with a number of teams interested in signing the once in a generation player.

The power forward is currently employed by the New Orleans Pelicans and is under contract at least until 2020 when he can become an unrestricted free agent. But he is keen to leave sooner rather than later and has requested via his agent to be traded to a team that will help him win NBA championships.

The Pelicans hold all the cards owing to the length of his contract and can decide when to trade him midway through this season or in the summer when they could get the best offer for a player who is high in demand.

The Los Angeles Lakers are front-runners at the moment with multiple reports stating that they are Davis’ preferred choice, but the final decision will come down to the Pelicans and which team makes the best offer in terms of players and draft picks.

The Lakers will be favorites until the trade deadline, but if the move does not go through by Feb. 7 then it is likely the Celtics, who will take the driver’s seat as they will be able to make the best offer in the summer in terms of players and draft picks.

It is believed that Davis is not too keen to join the Celtics with the main reason being he is unsure of Kyrie Irving’s plans. The point guard will also most likely enter free agency in the summer and despite verbally committing to the Celtics many are unsure if he will re-sign after an inconsistent season with the team, who were the pre-season favorites to emerge from the East.

But Fox Sports’ Chris Broussard believes Irving will re-sign with the Celtics as he has given the vibe that he wants to win championships with his current employers. He left Cleveland Cavaliers in order to lead a team of his own and he has the opportunity with the Celtics, who have a young roster packed with talent and the addition of Davis will make them title contenders.

“I think over the last two weeks Kyrie has shown ‘It’s my team. The rest of you guys are really good, but I’m the leader. I’m gonna get you the ball, but we go as I go.’ And that looks like he wants to have his own team,” Broussard said Thursday on “The Herd”, as quoted on NESN.

“If I had to bet, gun to my head, I would bet this: Kyrie Irving re-signs with Boston and Anthony Davis is traded to the Celtics this summer. I’m not saying that’s definitely gonna happen, but if you force me to make a prediction with all there is that still has to come, I would say that’s what happens,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Lakers are going all out to ensure they do not lose out on Davis and they want to get it done before the trade deadline in six days’ time. According to Los Angeles Times Brad Turner, Lakers president of basketball operations has gotten in touch with Pelicans general manager Dell Demps this week to discuss trade options.

The Los Angeles franchise is said to have presented five different offers to the Pelicans – that’s how desperate they are to beat off the competition. They are not interested in battling the Celtics for Davis in the summer as they reportedly want to concentrate on landing other free agents.

And one of the offers from the Lakers is said to include a whopping four players and one future No.1 draft pick, Turner wrote: “Lakers let Demps know one of trade scenarios would include Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Ivica Zubac, No. 1 pick, per source.”

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