What seemed like just a matter of time finally happened Saturday evening, when the New Orleans Pelicans traded disgruntled star Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers.
It wasn't a matter of if but just a matter of when Davis, a 26 year old superstar, would end up with the Lakers. That is in large part because LeBron James wanted Davis in LA and because Davis is represented by Klutch Sports, the agency that James' agent Rich Paul leads.
Here's how the trade shakes out:
To Los Angeles: PF Anthony Davis
To New Orleans: PG Lonzo Ball, SF Brandon Ingram, SG Josh Hart, three first-round draft picks (including 4th overall pick in 2019 draft)
(via Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN)
According to Tim Bontemps of ESPN, the Pelicans also receive a top 8 protected pick in 2021 (which becomes unprotected in 2022), unprotected swaps in 2023 and 2025, and an unprotected pick in 2024.
In terms of pick swaps, they mean that if the Lakers have a higher draft choice in 2023 and 2025, the Pelicans can swap picks with them. In terms of protected picks, it means that if the Lakers pick in the top 8 in the 2021 draft, that they will keep the pick. If they pick out of the top 8, the pick will belong to the Pelicans.
For Los Angeles, this trade is clearly for the immediate future. Getting a superstar like Davis to play alongside James - who will be 35 in December - gives the Lakers a tremendous opportunity to compete for championships in James' twilight years. It also secures their future post James, as they can build around Davis, who just turned 26 in March.
For the Pelicans, they have secured a very bright future. If they choose to keep Jrue Holiday, having Lonzo Ball to pair with him in the back court gives them two dynamic point guards. Both of them can make plays, and Holiday is a very capable scorer. It would be similar to the Rajon Rondo-Holiday back court of last year, that was vital in allowing the Pelicans to sweep the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 2018 playoffs. Ingram gives them a guy who has the tools and capabilities of a dynamic scorer, and Hart can shoot the ball as well as defend.
According to Wojnarowski, the Pelicans have already recieved "significant interest" in the 4th overall pick. If traded, they could add a bona fide player to make them more of a contender in the near future. If kept, they can help build for the future.
The Lakers made this trade for right now, creating a frightening tandem of the best player of his era and a young superstar. The Pelicans made it for their future, but could also swing it, if they trade the pick, to make themselves better right now.
It really is a win win for both. And the first domino of what promises to be a very busy and landscape changing NBA summer has fallen.
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