The Los Angeles Lakers have contacted the New Orleans Pelicans about a possible Anthony Davis trade, according to Los Angeles Times beat reporter Brad Turner. The reporter said that Magic Johnson has been in contact with Pelicans' general manager Dell Demps about a trade and the two had discussions on a Tuesday phone call so Magic could see what the Pelicans had in mind. During the phone call, Johnson weighed what the Pelicans were thinking and then sent some offers over to New Orleans about a possible trade.
Lakers offer Pelicans 5 different options for Anthony Davis trade
What is crazy is that Turner reported that the Los Angeles Lakers have offered the New Orleans Pelicans five different trade options fo try to swing the trade by the NBA deadline on February 7. Now, Magic is just waiting to hear back from Demps about which of the five -- if any -- offers interests him the most. After that happens, the two teams will know if a trade is possible at all.
Turner reports that the Lakers want to get the deal done now because they have no intentions of getting into a bidding war over the summer with the Boston Celtics. He said that if this trade is not done, the Lakers will go after other free agents rather than wait for Anthony Davis.
Of course, the word is that they will find free agents on smaller, short-term deals because Davis made it clear he wants to be in Los Angeles -- even if he has to wait until he is a free agent in 2020.
What are the Lakers offering?
Brad Turner had one amazing NBA trade offer the Los Angeles Lakers sent to the New Orleans Pelicans for Anthony Davis and it is really cleaning house of all their promising young talent and recent draft picks.
According to Turner, one of the offers for Davis includes Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Ivica Zubac and a first-round NBA Draft pick.
Sources: Lakers let Demps know one of trade scenarios would include Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Ivica Zubac, No. 1 pick, per source.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) January 31, 2019
It seems almost crazy that the Lakers would give up both Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram (and LaVar Ball might say the same about Lonzo), but the Los Angeles Lakers obviously feel that Anthony Davis is worth it.
At the moment, Kyle Kuzma is the second best player the Lakers have behind LeBron James.
What is crazy is that would basically make the New Orleans Pelicans starting lineup the exact same as the Los Angeles Lakers lineup from last year. As for the Lakers, that would give them LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope/Rajon Ronda, Josh Hart and Lance Stevenson as their starting five.