Lakers pull out of Davis trade talks
The Los Angeles Lakers informed the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday they’re pulling out of trade talks for star Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Times has reported.
Team president of basketball operations Magic Johnson told New Orleans general manager Dell Demps the Lakers had made their best offer, the Times reported, citing a source not authorized to speak about the issue.
According to Times’ sources, the Lakers had modified their offer to the Pelicans and were willing to trade Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ivica Zubac to the Pelicans. In addition, they had agreed to part with two first-round draft picks and to take Solomon Hill and his US$12.7 million contract along with Davis.
“They wanted more and more and more,” a source told the Times. “There was no more to give. They had cap relief with Hill being in the deal. But the more they wanted, the more it became outrageous and unrealistic.”
Both the Times and ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Pelicans were asking for eight draft picks. Wojnarowski identified those as four first-round and four second-round picks.
But Wojnarowski cautioned that Johnson will listen if New Orleans comes back with a counter-offer.
“If Pelicans want to counter the Lakers most recent offer on Davis, Magic Johnson and (general manager) Rob Pelinka are obviously anxious to find a pathway for a trade,” Wojnarowski tweeted. “This is a negotiation tactic on behalf of Lakers, who have wanted New Orleans to show more initiative in the process.”
Davis’ agent last week said Davis would not be re-signing with New Orleans and requested a trade. Davis is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in July 2020, so the Pelicans don’t need to rush into a deal.
In the meantime, Davis has recovered from a finger injury, but the Pelicans’ front office reportedly ordered the All-Star big man to sit out as rumours swirled ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.