The NBA season is fast approaching its end, and the Los Angeles Lakers are arguably entering their most important summer in history. The crash course is full of the possibilities of adding another superstar to compliment LeBron James in his resurgence of the league’s most storied franchise. That superstar is Anthony Davis and is still under contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.
A trade, it appears, is the only way to add an elite star to join The King.
One would think that the Lakers mess that’s spilled into the public gives off too much of a toxic flow to attract a high profile player like Davis. But in an incredible twist, Lakers exceptionalism is still alive and well. Klutch Sports agent Rich Paul, who reps Davis as well as LeBron James and several other NBA stars, spoke with Sports Illustrated’s S.L. Price regarding his client’s interest.
My thing is: Take LeBron off the Lakers. Are the Lakers not a great destination for an arguably top-two player that went to Kentucky and won a national championship, signed with Nike? For a team that’s had centers from George Mikan to Wilt Chamberlain to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Shaq?
The team seems poised to either make an expensive trade to acquire Davis. Ironically, the Lakers are battling their biggest rival in the Boston Celtics for the services of Davis. Their collection of assets and young players have long-been desired, but Kyrie Irving’s potential departure makes their position a little bit tougher. With that context in mind, Paul spoke about their plans if Davis were pried away by the Celtics and beyond this off-season.
“They can trade for him, but it’ll be for one year,” Paul says. “I mean: If the Celtics traded for Anthony Davis, we would go there and we would abide by our contractual [obligations] and we would go into free agency in 2020. I’ve stated that to them. But in the event that he decides to walk away and you give away assets? Don’t blame Rich Paul.
With the uncertainty surrounding Irving’s return, the Celtics may take this proclamation as a warning. This could open up a lane for the Lakers, perhaps with a third team, to piece together the best package to attract the Pelicans. As the NBA Draft approaches, things will become clearer about where Davis will continue his NBA career. If that happens to be the Lakers, the NBA should watch out next season.
