Anthony Davis and LeBron James got exactly what they wanted Saturday — a trade to the Lakers for the Pelicans’ disgruntled big man — and one fewer superstar target remains on the board for the Knicks.
The Post reported last week the Pelicans didn’t view the Knicks’ young assets as especially attractive in comparison to other Davis suitors, feeling they needed a third team more than any other squad involved.
According to an NBA source, the Knicks “weren’t close” to having a major package to entice New Orleans on a deal.
The Lakers didn’t need a third team to land Davis and unite him with James, but they have, as one NBA executive put it, “mortgaged their future for a very small window with LeBron.’’
Indeed, the Lakers, eyeing a Western Conference title crown now that Golden State looks vulnerable next season without Kevin Durant and perhaps Klay Thompson, pulled off a blockbuster as Davis’ long-awaited arrival to the Lakers has happened, ESPN reported.
Six young assets head to New Orleans to join Zion Williamson, whom the Pelicans will make as the first pick in Thursday’s draft. Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and three first-round picks, including this year’s fourth pick, will head to the Big Easy.
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Though the Knicks could still trade down a few notches, it appears now the third pick in the draft will be used with Duke’s RJ Barrett likely to fall to them.
Agent Rick Paul, who is on the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated as the NBA’s new kingmaker, had tried to bring Davis and James together since the February’s trade deadline. Paul’s on-the-record announcement Davis wanted out drew the ire of New Orleans ownership, and Gayle Benson was reportedly told confidants she’d let Davis go to the Lakers “over my dead body.’’
But the Lakers’ package is immense — essentially three top-five lottery picks. When word leaked of a similar package offered at the trade deadline, the Knicks were surprised at the amount of assets included and thought it may be false.
The Lakers will still have between $27 million and $32 million to go after a star free agent, pending whether Davis waives his trade bonus.
The Knicks were willing to include the No. 3 pick and at least one of Dallas’ two first-round picks in a Davis deal. New Orleans had a choice among a group of young players in Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, Dennis Smith Jr. and Frank Ntilikina.
The Post reported the Pelicans didn’t view any of their young players as having a potential top-15 future. Meanwhile, SNY reported the Knicks were reluctant to give up too many assets in a Davis deal, and clearly the Knicks would not have given up a collection of six players and picks.
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Leaks that Davis considered the Knicks and Lakers as the only places he would sign long-term as a free agent in 2020 seemed disingenuous. It is possible the Knicks were used as leverage to up the Lakers’ bids.
That Durant is likely out next season after tearing his right Achilles tendon also could have lessened Davis’ desire to play for the young 17-65 Knicks.
By not landing AD, the Knicks also kept open their two max salary slots. It would have been near impossible to do a trade and still have room for two slots. After Paul’s public trade demand, the Knicks offered Kristaps Porzingis to New Orleans before trading him to Dallas for the cap-space benefits.
With cap space and now James and Davis, the Lakers perhaps could pique the interest of Kyrie Irving, who had considered the Lakers, Knicks and Nets as viable options since the Celtics got eliminated. Irving has patched up any differences with James, though reportedly the Nets are in the lead.
https://nypost.com/2019/06/15/anthony-davis-decision-highlights-knicks-grim-reality/
