NBA: Analyzing both sides of the Anthony Davis trade

The Anthony Davis trade might be one of the biggest moves in NBA history and we’re going to dive into how it impacts both the Lakers and Pelicans

Anthony Davis is finally a Laker.

Davis has been traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, the No. 4 pick in this year’s draft as well as two other picks and two pick swaps in 2023 and 2025.

The blockbuster deal that seemed inevitable for so long, that everybody seemingly saw coming still managed to take most by surprise when both the Pelicans and the Lakers reached an agreement just two days after the NBA Finals finished.

And with it potentially going down as one of the biggest trades in NBA history, there’s a lot of stuff to get into here, on both sides…

*And if you want to hear me dive deep into this topic as well as a whole lot more, be sure to check out the latest episode of the Around the Arc podcast (listen below)!

The Lakers side of the Anthony Davis trade

So, did the Lakers give up too much to get AD?

Absolutely not. LA now has two top 5 players and two guys (in LeBron and AD) who could each be in with a shot of being recognized as the best player in the world next year.

Not only that, but they also managed to hang on to Kyle Kuzma in this deal which is a great achievement. Kuz may not be a superstar but – if he keeps improving – he could be a really good third option on a championship team (especially when James and Davis are No. 1 and No. 2). I can see him being a more versatile and valuable version of Kevin Love from LeBron’s time in Cleveland.

And based on the rumors surrounding the Lakers’ dwindling chances of landing a top-tier free agent, this move became even more essential, to get LeBron the other guy he needs to lead this storied franchise back to NBA supremacy.

The question now becomes how do the Lakers fill out the rest of the roster in the summer and free agency. With Kyrie seemingly interested in the Brooklyn Nets, LA has turned its attention to Kemba Walker who could be a great third star to fit next to their newly established dynamic duo.

However, instead of chasing big names and stars, what may be the wiser move for the Lakers is to go after multiple complimentary pieces to provide added depth and balance to the roster. Instead of trying to integrate a third star player, LA should focus instead on filling out their roster with shooters, defenders, and veterans. Players like Patrick Beverley, Trevor Ariza, Danny Green, and others are all examples of guys that would fit perfectly with both LeBron and Davis.

But where would that put them among the NBA’s elite teams?

As long as they don’t screw up free agency the same way they botched their head coaching search, the Lakers should enter next season with as good a shot as any team of winning it all. The pairing of AD and LeBron looks to be positively unstoppable once they get used to playing with one another and if they manage to add a few more shooters and dependable rotation pieces, I would argue that they could be the favorites to win the NBA title in 2020.

The Pelicans’ side of the Anthony Davis trade

Now on the Pelicans’ side, it’s easy to look at them losing Anthony Davis and automatically say that they lost this trade, especially since they didn’t get Kuzma in the deal either. But they’re actually now in a terrific position to rebuild and return to relevance and contention sooner rather than later.

They got Lonzo Ball in the trade who – despite his obvious shortcomings – can be a triple-double threat on a nightly basis. He’s also one of the best defensive guards in the league and can definitely be the Pelicans point guard of the future.

Jrue Holiday is the veteran leader on this young team but he’s still an all-star caliber two-way combo guard who can do a little bit of everything on the floor. He may not be the best fit with the team going forward but even so, he represents a valuable trade piece that could fetch a tempting return.

Brandon Ingram – another huge part of the Anthony Davis trade – took a big step in the second half of last season and as long as his health manages to holds up, he’ll be looking to build on that progress as his potential is still through the roof as a long, athletic, two-way star.

Josh Hart is a great 3-and-D guy with a lot of room still to grow. I think he’s also an underrated slasher and can be a real threat in transition. It’s because of this foundation that I actually thought the Lakers should look to hold on to Hart as he is just the type of guy LA will now be looking for in free agency.

Then you get to Zion Williamson who has the potential to be a generational, transcendent player in the NBA. He will undoubtedly be the face of this Pelicans’ rebuild and if he’s even just half as good as the hype would lead you to believe, New Orleans is going to be alright.

Also, the 4th pick in this year’s draft could turn into a real piece too. Maybe think of a guy like Deandre Hunter, Darius Garland or maybe Cam Reddish. If they don’t feel like keeping the pick, they could always look to trade it, maybe for an established starting-caliber player or maybe even a fringe all-star.

Whoever they end up acquiring from that pick (whether by draft selection or trade) should be someone who can knock down outside shots because that is going to be one glaring weakness for this young team, at least initially.

Hart can develop into a good outside shooter, Ingram still has the potential to be one and Jrue can knock long balls down at times, though he can be a bit streaky. Other than that, they’ll need to improve their spacing over time.

On the plus side, this squad does have all the makings of a dominant defensive team and a devastating transition attack. When you look up and down this new-look roster, you can see a bunch of long, versatile athletes that can really lock up on the defensive end as well as get out and run in transition. I mean, just picture a fast break, led by Lonzo, with Hart, Zion, and Ingram all filling the lanes. Get out of the way, NBA.

So, in conclusion, the New Orleans Pelicans may not have gotten the best player in the Anthony Davis trade, but they are now, arguably better built for the future. Yes, even more so than the Lakers.