The NBA trade deadline is on its way, and Anthony Davis threw first bomb after deciding that he won’t re-sign with the New Orleans Pelicans
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Anthony Davis’s agent, Rich Paul, informed the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday evening that the forward has no intention of signing a contract extension this summer and wants to be traded to a team that allows him to win consistently and compete for a championship.
A couple of teams have already been speculated to be the ideal landing destination for Davis who has made a name for himself over the past few years. The five-time NBA All-Star will be the talk of the trade deadline or perhaps until he signs with a new team. Despite not mentioning his ideal team, here are the frontrunners to acquire Davis:
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are always in the talks of acquiring a new superstar every year. With LeBron James now spearheading the team, the Lakers are looking to gain another player to be able to compete against the dynamic teams of the West.
For the purple and gold team to secure Davis, they must give up the young hopefuls in the team. The deal involves trading Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Ivica Zubac, and a first round pick in exchange for Davis. Over the past year, the Lakers have held back in trading their young core for the likes of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. With the 25-year-old Davis now in the market, this might just be the year that the Lakers could finally let go of its rising stars. Needless to say, LeBron has mentioned his desire to team up with a star like Davis.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics have often been linked to Davis as an ideal team for him to play in. To get Davis, however, a huge block is in it for Boston due to the “Rose Rule” contract extension of Kyrie Irving. This would mean that Boston cannot trade for the superstar until July 1. If talks go on until the said date, the trade will involve Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart, Robert Williams III, and 2019 first-round picks from the Sacramento Kings (top one protected) and Memphis Grizzlies (top eight protected).
New York Knicks
If the Knicks get their way to obtaining first-pick rights in this year’s draft, New York would have the assets to acquire Davis in a deal. An appealing deal involves Kevin Knox, who has shown potential this year, Frank Ntilikina, Tim Hardaway Jr, and possibly the No.1 overall pick in this year’s draft in exchange for Davis.
If that’s not enough, the Knicks have Kristaps Porzingis to add to the offer if they are willing to give up their stars. They also have the capacity to create enough cap space this summer for free agents like Kevin Durant; even as vague as the idea may be, this could convince Davis to play for New York.
Toronto Raptors
With Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry in the mix, the Raptors have become an inviting propostion. As seen in the past years, a championship-caliber team involves a roster with multiple stars. Toronto would have to offer Pascal Siakam, OG Aunoby, Delon Wright, Jonas Valanciunas, and a 2021 first-round pick. A trio forming Leonard, Lowry, and Davis would make them rule the Eastern Conference and possibly be in the league’s top three.
Davis has reportedly not told the Pelicans of his preferred destination, hence giving every team the chance to pursue him. The bidding for Davis is expected to go sky-high, especially with the trade deadline fast approaching. It’s going to be interesting to watch where the five-time NBA All-Star will land and even more so to witness the impact he’ll be making to change the league.