Anthony Davis wants to go to Lakers.
We can stop beating around the bush, he would like to be on the Lakers today if possible, but he knows that it isn’t possible, so he and LeBron’s agent Rich Paul did a very shrewd strategic maneuver.
Instead of relying on SOURCES to leak his trade demand, they went public with it themselves. If Davis planned on playing out this year, there would be no reason to make his demands known now unless he had a particular destination in mind that he wanted to get to before the season was over.
That destination is the Lakers, before we get into why it is imperative the Lakers to get a deal done now, here is why Davis announcing his decision today is bad for Celtics via Yahoo Sports.
Regarding team preferences, Boston is not a top target for Davis, sources said. There’s a growing belief of uncertainty that Kyrie Irving will re-sign with Boston, sources said, even though he vowed to do so at the beginning of the season.
Back to the Lakers, they have had marquee players that have wanted to play with them but they have been reluctant to give up their young assets. With Anthony Davis they can’t take the risk that the Pelicans trade him to the Knicks and then in turn that entices Kevin Durant. They can’t have a Paul George situation happen again.
If you are the Pelicans, how do you handle this?
By making it public, Davis essentially is telling the team they are trash and he wants to leave now. Imagine having a whole half year of that lingering in the locker room?
Also if the Pelicans wait how eager will the Celtics be in giving up their young players and picks with no assurances that Davis will re-sign with them?
If you can get Lonzo, Kuzman and possible Ingram right now, do you pull the trigger?
We will find out soon enough.
Flip the page for the Pelicans statement on the situation.