Lakers Aware Of Position In Anthony Davis Trade, Contenders Can't Match Offer

The New Orleans Pelicans are considering offers for Anthony Davis with the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics said to be the two teams that can match the Pelicans’ asking price. But Celtics are wary of giving up all their talent after Davis’ agent warned his client could leave after one season when he enters free agency in 2020.

The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers are also interested but do not possess the assets required to get the undivided attention of the Pelicans at the moment. The Lakers have offered Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and their No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, and it is said to be the best package on offer.

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne says the Lakers also believe in the public perception that they are the front runners in the race for Davis and remain quite certain that even an offer from the Celtics which includes Jayson Tatum is unlikely to trump the Los Angeles trade package owing to the forward’s inconsistent 2018-19 season.

But the Pelicans are not willing to accept the offer from the Lakers as they are looking to acquire a veteran, All-Star player as part of the Davis trade, which the Lakers cannot readily offer. A third team is required to enter the picture and either absorb the No. 4 pick or Ingram and give up an All-Star.

“And the Lakers’ game here is that they have by far the best package. The only team that can really trump them would be Boston if they put Jayson Tatum in, and even that, Tatum kind of had an off year, so he’s not as valuable as he was a year ago,” Shelburne said speaking on ESPN Radio, as quoted on Silver Screen and Roll. “I think the Lakers feel like they’re in the driver’s seat, in the sense that every day that goes by now, it feels like the offers for Anthony get worse. And there’s not many other teams that can make this kind of combination of offers."

“I really think it probably comes down to whether or not New Orleans can find that veteran player that they want. And you have to either flip the fourth pick or flip Ingram to get that veteran, All-Star-type player that they want as part of that package. And that probably has to come from a third team,” she added.

Washington Wizards point guard Bradley Beal was one of the players mentioned as part of a multi-team deal that will see Davis join the Lakers. But it remains to be seen which team will be willing to sacrifice one of their top players and acquire a top prospect.