Under team president Magic Johnson, the Los Angeles Lakers made every effort to trade for Anthony Davis at the NBA trade deadline in February, reportedly offering the team’s entire young core – and negatively impacting team chemistry in the process. Following reports at the time that then-Pelicans GM Dell Demps had no intention of actually trading Davis, Johnson called out New Orleans for not operating in good faith.
What a difference a few months makes. Johnson has since quit his job, Demps has been fired, the Lakers have three new coaches on staff – and Anthony Davis will soon be a Laker, according to ESPN. The Lakers and Pelicans agreed to a blockbuster deal that will see Davis moved to Los Angeles (for at least one year), in exchange for a package including Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and three first-round picks, including the No. 4 pick in next week’s NBA Draft.
Johnson congratulated his former team on Twitter soon after news of the deal broke, and even gave a shoutout to Lakers GM Rob Pelinka.
Just last month, Johnson went on ESPN’s First Take and accused Pelinka of betraying him.
