The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t get Anthony Davis at the trade deadline. In one of the more interesting turns of events that we’ve seen at the deadline, it appeared that the New Orleans Pelicans did not intend to really engage with the Lakers at all, instead dangling them in a way that appeared to be retributive for perceived tampering with Davis.
Now the Boston Celtics — among others — will get a chance to go after Davis this summer.
Meanwhile, Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson told reporters on Sunday that he did not feel that the Pelicans operated in good faith during their trade talks.
Via Twitter:
Magic Johnson is with the Lakers in Philly and was asked if he felt “the negation” the Lakers had at the trade deadline was a “good-faith negotiation.” His response? “No.”
— Bill Oram (@billoram) February 10, 2019
-He told reporters to stop treating LAL players “like babies” about the trade deadline.
— Bill Oram (@billoram) February 10, 2019
-Said he’s seen a lot of players get traded in his 40 years and this deadline was no different.
-Did not think Pelicans deal being negotiated in public was detrimental to the process.
At this juncture it seems as though Davis, if he truly wants to play for the Lakers, will need to either sign there as a free agent or force his way out of wherever he’s traded this summer come next season. Davis has a player option for 2020-21, which he will almost certainly opt out of, and he can threaten not to re-sign as a means to push a trade through.
We thought LeBron James going to LA was going to be entertaining, but I’m not sure we expected it to get this wild this early. Luke Walton on the hot seat, the AD rumors, the open lobbying by James to recruit other free agents to the Lakers ... it’s all a bit much and we’re not even to the All-Star break yet.