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The Los Angeles Lakers (and Boston Celtics) have begun officially talking about an Anthony Davis trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, according to an assortment of ESPN’s biggest newsbreakers:
So far, Boston has been undeterred in pursuing Davis -- despite his agent insisting AD would be a 2020 flight risk in free agency. For Boston, Davis could still be its best case to keep Kyrie Irving. Story soon on https://t.co/XcwLHcsHad https://t.co/C9NwYJiObX
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 12, 2019
After we got some details on who the Lakers are and aren’t offering for Davis, Brian Windhorst of ESPN then went on “The Jump” and gave the latest on the current talks:
“The Knicks right now are not really involved, and the No. 3 pick is not involved. They look like they’re going to select R.J. Barrett. It can change, but right now, the Celtics and the Lakers are both making bids and it looks like there is traction towards Anthony Davis being traded. And the second thing I would say is what’s being shopped in the league out there right now is the No. 4 pick, which means that the Pelicans and the Lakers have some sort of framework and that the No. pick would go to the Pelicans and that the Pelicans are now trying to see what they can get for it.
“Now David Griffin has said, he wants to get an All-Star-type player in this deal. Now by the way, there would be other assets from the Lakers, other players from the Lakers who would be coming... Is there an All-Star out there that they can get with that No. 4 pick, because David Griffin does not want to do a full rebuild...”
The No. 4 pick being available to other teams is the first big new part here, and would suggest that the Lakers and Pelicans are at least decently close to a deal, as Windhorst points out. It’s also worth noting that the Celtics are apparently still going to get involved, despite Rich Paul assuring them that Davis won’t re-sign there. Is that just an attempt to help New Orleans leverage the Lakers for more? I don’t know, but it’s a question worth asking, and makes more sense than the Celtics giving up a bunch for a player who appears set to leave before he even arrives.
We’ll have more on this situation soon as things shake out, but it appears things are really starting to happen.
This post will update as this story develops. For more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. You can follow Harrison on Twitter at @hmfaigen.