The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to chase big-name free agents this summer in the hope of reaching elite status again in the NBA. Several players are already being linked to the Lakers, but it remains to be seen whether or not their front office will successfully attract superstars to wear the purple and gold starting next season.
Their interest in Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James and Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Paul George is one of the worst-kept secrets in the league. But aside from James and George, the Lakers are also frequently being linked to New Orleans Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis.
How can the Lakers land Anthony Davis?
Davis is one of the best big men in the league, but he has yet to win in New Orleans, generating speculation that he might look for a way out in the near future. And if Davis requests a change of scenery, Jason Reed of LA Sports Hub said that the Lakers should make a run at the 24-year-old power forward.
Acquiring a player of Davis’ caliber is easier said than done, but Reed suggested that the Lakers should offer rookie guard Lonzo Ball along with Julius Randle, Luol Deng, and their 2019 first-overall pick to the Pelicans in exchange for Davis this summer. For this to happen, they should secure a new deal with Randle in the offseason.
Why the Anthony Davis trade makes sense for the LA Lakers
Losing Ball would be a huge blow to the Lakers, considering the fact that the former UCLA standout might turn out to be a triple-double machine in the future. However, the Lakers need to give up valuable assets if they want to get a superstar like Davis, who is averaging 27.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game.
Moving Ball to the Pelicans might also bring more good than harm to the Lakers. Colin Cowherd of Fox Sports said earlier this month that the Lakers might be willing to move Ball because of the drama created by his father, LaVar Ball, who has been calling out the Lakers publicly over the past several months. Cowherd is convinced that keeping Ball will hurt their chances of landing big-name free agents in the future.
The suggested trade would also help the Lakers financially because they would get rid of the expensive contract of Deng. The veteran forward is only in the second season of his four-year, $72 million contract with the Lakers. The Lakers have been trying to move Deng, but they would likely need to add a future asset to convince teams to take his bad contract.
