The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Anthony Davis in a deal that will haunt the New Orleans Pelicans for at least another decade
The New Orleans Pelicans agreed to send Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and three first-round picks – including the 4th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
The other two first-round picks include a top-8 protected pick in the 2021 draft, an unprotected first-round pick in 2024 draft, and two unprotected swaps in 2023 and 2025.
The Lakers, in the trade, took a page out of the playbook of great Masai Ujiri, making a huge gamble for a chance at a title next season.
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AD is a generational player and maybe the most talented power forward to ever play basketball. He is only 26 and he will make LA title contenders for the foreseeable future – assuming health, and that he re-signs next summer.
None of the players the Lakers offered in the deal were anywhere close to the caliber of Anthony Davis. Moreover, it is highly unlikely that any of the draft picks will be either.
Ball struggled through his first two seasons with the Lakers, he also missed 62 games this past season. Despite playing over 30 minutes per game, Ball averaged less than 10 points and six assists per game.
Ingram is a good player; however, his potential blood clot issue should not be overlooked. The hope is that he can return next season, but nothing is a given considering everything Chris Bosh just went through regarding that issue.
The most unfortunate losses in the trade deal for the Lakers is Josh Hart and the 4th overall pick. Josh Hart was an excellent role player for the Lakers and provided 3-point shooting off the bench. However, he too had injury problems the past two seasons. With the fourth pick, the Lakers could have added to their depth.
The Pelicans would have been better taking the Lakers initial offer made by the brilliant Magic Johnson. Not only did it include Ball and Ingram, but it also included Kyle Kuzma, Zubac, and a first-round pick. With how Zubac and Zuzma performed last season, they were more valuable than Josh Hart and two first-round picks.
It was rumored that the Pelicans wanted Kuzma in an offer made that included Ball, Ingram, and the 4th pick in the 2019 NBA draft. However, including Hart, two other first round picks, and two first-round swaps in place of Kuzma is better for the Lakers. It puts them in a position to win now and there is no telling how good those draft picks will be in the future.
While the Pelicans received good players in the deal, they did not need Ingram or Ball in their lineup. If Randle Leaves, the Pelicans will need a power forward and they also need a center. Moreover, building a team around Zion Williamson requires that the Pelicans get more shooters. Ball and Ingram have struggled with their jump shot and from the free-throw line.
The Pelicans did not need a point guard because they have Jrue Holiday and could re-sign Elfrid Payton to a cheaper contract than Ball. Payton is only 25 years old and despite playing less fewer minutes than Ball, he is averaging more points and assists. He is also a better 3-point shooter and free-throw shooter than Ball.
However, what is not included in the deal is that the Pelicans are getting Lavar Ball and his quest to get his other two sons to the NBA. This could be a PR nightmare for the Pelicans as it was for the Lakers. Lavar Ball’s antics undoubtedly played a role in Ball being traded.
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As for the 4th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Ja Morant and RJ Barrett are going in the top three and can’t be drafted by the Pelicans. The other players in the draft may not pay off for the Pelicans.
As far as the other two first round picks, they are pretty much a coin flip. The NBA Draft is a crapshoot and you just never know.
The most interesting part of the deal is the two first round pick swaps. This gives the Pelicans the option to swap first-round picks with the Lakers in the 2023 and 2025.
If everything works out for the Pelicans core group of young players, this trade could really be beneficial for the franchise. However, if Davis remains healthy and LeBron’s game remains the same as he ages, the Lakers will not have any regrets with the trade deal.
The Pelicans did not walk away empty-handed and they still have some cap space this summer to add more players. However, the Pelicans should have never done the deal without getting Kuzma. Ingram and Ball have missed significant time due to injuries since they have been drafted. Moreover, Hart is a role player and there is no telling the quality of players the Pelicans will be able to draft. Kuzma would have been a surefire asset for the Pelicans.
On the other hand, the Lakers got precisely what they needed. The got a superstar to pair with LeBron James that is capable of carrying the franchise for the next decade. The Lakers have cap space to get more role players this summer, and they got to keep Kuzma.
This trade also makes the Lakers more attractive in free agency. And it allows the Lakers to contend for a title next season with Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson out. The only issue the Lakers have is AD’s health.
Anthony Davis is a generational player and could go down as one of the greatest power forward in the history of the NBA.
In 1975, the Bucks traded Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Lakers for four players named Elmore Smith, Brian Winters, Dave Meyers, and Junior Bridgeman. This deal is widely regarded to be the worst deal in the history of American team sports. Maybe even worse than when the Red Socks trading Babe Ruth. This trade is what built the Showtime Lakers and prevented the Bucks from ever winning another title.
I predict that the Anthony Davis trade to the Lakers will be regarded as just as bad as the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar trade to the Lakers. It will likely deliver a championship to the Lakers and make the Lakers contenders for the foreseeable future.
The Lakers just maybe pulled off maybe the greatest heist in the history of sports.
This year, in the NBA Finals, we saw how the trade of DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard paid for the Raptors. Just like Ujiri’s gamble on Kawhi Leonard, the gamble the Los Angeles Lakers are taking is likely to pay off in dividends.