Kyle Kuzma brought the Los Angeles Lakers some lottery luck on Tuesday night as the Lakers vaulted from likely getting the 11th pick all the way to the 4th overall pick in the 2019 Draft.
However, whatever hopes they had after moving up to the top four were dashed almost instantly when the New Orleans Pelicans got the No. 1 pick. Now the Pelicans are armed with more assets and can be ever more patient with the trade request of Anthony Davis. And according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the No. 4 pick is unlikely to get the Pelicans to move off of their anti-Lakers stance.
Although Pelicans general manager David Griffin had a strong relationship with Rich Paul of Klutch Sports and LeBron James, he’s also one of the most highly-regarded executives in the game today. It also is an inescapable reality that Brandon Ingram’s trade value is as low as ever after a season-ending blood clot was found in his arm.
Windhorst suggested that the Knicks, who have the No. 3 pick and several other draft picks from the Dallas Mavericks, might be in better position to do business with New Orleans if they choose to draft Zion Williamson and want to build a youth movement.
The Lakers may still be able to make a deal for an established player to join their young core and LeBron James, but that established player likely won’t be Anthony Davis.
