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It’s finally happened.
The New Orleans Pelicans have traded Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Woj.
The Pelicans have agreed to a deal to trade Anthony Davis to the Lakers for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and three first-round picks – including the No. 4 overall in 2019 Draft, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 15, 2019
This has been the desire for Davis ever since he demanded a trade in the middle of the 2018-19 season. The Lakers came close to making a deal before the deadline, but they ultimately bowed out, and Davis finished out the season in New Orleans.
Since then, no team has been able to match the kind of offer Los Angeles was able to make with so many young players and draft capital, including the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s draft.
The Boston Celtics were ready to make a run at Davis, but he never wanted to re-sign with them long term, so they probably weren’t making the type of offer that the lakers were willing to make.
Davis now gets to team up with LeBron James and finally have a real shot at competing for an NBA title, something that simply was never going to happen in New Orleans.
It also means Lavar and Lonzo Ball will be taking their act to the Pelicans with presumed No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson, as well as whoever ends up being the No. 4 pick. That should make them one of the league’s more intriguing teams to follow next season, but the Lakers will be one of, if not the title favorite going into the 2019-20 season.
Good luck to Davis as he looks to make his first trip to the NBA Finals next season, and RIP to my Celtics’ title hopes for the foreseeable future.
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