Lakers Rumors: Latest Trade Buzz, Reports Before 2019 NBA Draft Lottery
Get ready for the Los Angeles Lakers-Anthony Davis trade talks, part two.
Part one did not go well for the Lakers at the trade deadline earlier this year. Former team president Magic Johnson made an attempt to acquire Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans when he put together a trade package that was large in volume but somewhat questionable in terms of quality.
That package included Josh Hart, Ivica Zubac, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball and two first-round picks, but the Pelicans never responded to it. New Orleans general manager Dell Demps did not come back at Johnson with a counterproposal, as there was no communication between the two executives and the trade proposal lingered and ultimately died.
Johnson left his position shortly after the regular season ended, and Demps was dismissed by the Pelicans in February.
The Lakers (37-45 in 2018-19) are going to try to re-engage the Pelicans in the talks for the 26-year-old center, as new participants are involved, per ESPN's NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski. David Griffin is the Pelicans' executive vice president in charge of basketball operations, and he was not a part of the team during the ill-fated talks prior to the February trade deadline.
The Lakers best chance to improve is through the trade market, per Wojnarowski, because top free agents are not considering the franchise as either "front runners or major players" at this point. However, a partnership between LeBron James and Davis would raise the profile and expectations for the franchise, and possibly create more traction in the free-agent market.
Acquiring Davis (25.9 points and 12.0 rebounds per game in 2018-19) in a trade could require the Lakers to part with Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, their 2019 first-round draft pick and a 2021 unprotected draft pick, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks. If the Lakers can move up in Tuesday night's draft lottery from the No. 11 spot they currently occupy, it would make any trade proposal that includes their top pick that much more attractive.
If the Lakers can add Davis in a trade or come to a deal for any key free agent—despite Wojnarowski's contention—it would give new head coach Frank Vogel a better opportunity to succeed. Vogel was hired by the Lakers Monday.
Vogel accepted a three-year deal to coach the Lakers, two years fewer than Monty Williams took to coach the Phoenix Suns and John Beilein got to become the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Vogel was previously the head coach of the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic.
The length of the contract was the primary reason that Tyronn Lue turned down the Lakers. Lue, the former head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, wanted a five-year deal, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com.
The three-year term that Vogel received could have an impact on potential free-agent signings. If a player received two equal contract offers and one team had its coach in place for five years and the other had a three-year deal, the player might be more inclined to go with the coach that had more security.
