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The LA Lakers are going to make a strong push to acquire Anthony Davis before the trade deadline.
Earlier this week Davis’ agent went on the record to announce that the Pelicans big man preferred to be traded by the team sooner than later.
Rich Paul to ESPN on a preferred destination for Anthony Davis: "Anthony wants to be traded to a team that allows him the chance to win consistently and compete for a championship."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 28, 2019
On timing of telling Pelicans now, Rich Paul tells ESPN: "Anthony wanted to be honest and clear with his intentions and that's the reason for informing them of this decision now. That's in the best interests of both Anthony's and the organization's future."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 28, 2019
According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders the Lakers are prepared to make a “monster offer” to acquire Davis before the trade deadline.
Sources close to the situation are mirroring what’s being reported, that the Lakers are prepared to make a monster offer for Davis that could include anyone not named LeBron James.
The Lakers value a lot of their young guys and wouldn’t include everything they have in a deal for Davis, but there is a belief that the Pelicans could have their choice of three of the Lakers’ young guys to make a Davis deal before next Thursday.
The Lakers have been active in looking at options before the Davis trade request, but with the Pelicans now listening, the Lakers are not going to mess around according to sources close to the situation.
The problem for the Lakers is they can’t force the Pelicans to take a deal; they can only make an attractive offer.
Unfortunately for the Lakers it appears that the Pelicans are intent on waiting until the offseason when the Celtics can also make an offer for Davis.
Via ESPN
New Orleans is operating with an understanding that the Lakers’ best deadline offer could still be available to the Pelicans in the offseason — once the asset-rich Boston Celtics can become factors in the Davis discussions.
“We will do this on our terms and our deadline,” the Pelicans said in a statement Monday.
The next few months are going to be very interesting for NBA fans.