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The New Orleans Pelicans are playing hardball with the Lakers before Thursday’s trade deadline.
On Monday afternoon it was reported that the Magic Johnson and the Lakers had offered nearly half of the Lakers squad in exchange for Anthony Davis.
Landed in Indy; update on Lakers-Pelicans talks. Magic Johnson, Dell Demps talked twice today, per source. Lakers willing to give Pelicans cap relief for Anthony Davis by taking Solomon Hill for Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Ingram, Rondo, Lance Stephenson, Beasley, 2 1st round picks.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) February 4, 2019
Apparently Magic’s offer wasn’t good enough for the Pelicans and now they’re asking for an insane amount of first round draft picks on top of what the Lakers have already offered.
Pels are waiting on Lakers to overwhelm them w/ an historic haul of picks. To Nola, that means Lakers offering 4 first-round and second-round picks as part of a Davis package. Pels want to be compensated – perhaps even overcompensated – to even consider a deal with LA now. https://t.co/Ft8rfe9EBZ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 5, 2019
Magic believes the Pelicans are not acting in good faith and may just be messing with the Lakers at this point.
Via ESPN
Set against Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, this process has transformed into a high-stakes game of leverages, postures and bluffs among several organizations and Davis’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. So far, the Lakers have felt that conversations with New Orleans have been one-sided, and they are growing increasingly pessimistic about the Pelicans’ willingness to do a deal with them, sources with knowledge of the discussions told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
Lakers conversations with Pels have been one-sided. NOLA hasn’t made any proposal or counter proposal from what I hear. https://t.co/5DDvOlUhXD
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) February 5, 2019
Allow me to capitalize the key wording in @wojespn latest update: “Pels want to be compensated – perhaps even overcompensated – TO EVEN CONSIDER- a deal with LA now.”
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) February 5, 2019
The Pelicans don’t seem happy about how Davis, LeBron and Rich Paul have tried to force the Pels hand.
I am no WOJ or any of these fine people, but I have been told it isn't really about the offer, it is simply the Pelicans are really ticked off at AD and Rich Paul and are trying to decide if they want to give them what they want or just ship him somewhere else out of spite. https://t.co/PSimSy9r8U
— Robert Littal BSO (@BSO) February 5, 2019
I personally the think the Pelicans are just toying with the Lakers but will eventually allow cooler heads to prevail and a deal will get done eventually.