I firmly believe Anthony Davis is a top 3 NBA player. It’s hard to distinguish what number he is (1, 2, or 3) because I also put LeBron James and Kevin Durant in that category. Anthony Davis has been a monster and just absolute great basketball player since entering the NBA in 2012. The only problem Anthony Davis has faced (and has hindered his career from team and post season success) is the fact that he has literally been the only superstar NOLA has ever had. Yes, they have had players like Rajon Rondo and DeMarcus Cousins, but for most of their tenure they were injured while playing with the NOLA Pelicans ( and or suspended on DeMarcus Cousins behalf). Then, when they were healthy, Davis was taking care of small injuries, so we never really fully got to see what Anthony Davis could do with help.
But did any team seriously think the New Orleans Pelicans were going to trade Anthony Davis this season for the shit deals they were given?
To acquire Anthony Davis in a trade, you have to give up the team’s life. If I was the NOLA Pelicans GM I wouldn’t have even acknowledged a deal with the Lakers unless they were going to give NOLA the following: Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart, Ivica Zubac and Tyson Chandler. The Lakers did reportedly offer them all those players with the exception of Chandler. I also would have asked for not one, not two, not three, but four first round picks and a second round pick in the upcoming draft. It would make no sense to inherit a Lakers team that isn’t winning without a considerable amount of first round picks; two won’t cut it.
Did the Lakers fail to realize that Anthony Davis was the franchise's No. 1 pick for NOLA Hornets, and later the complete centerpiece and only franchise player the Pelicans have ever had? GEEEEEEEZ.
I would’ve expected the same offer from the Celtics; now with the Celtics, I would’ve approached it differently. I would’ve asked for: Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown and would have asked for five first round picks and a second round pick in this year’s draft. It’s not the haul that I gave the Lakers, but the two players I just listed are very young and great players to help build a rebuilding NOLA Pelicans, plus a large haul of first round picks to even better the progress of a rebuild.
Though this is all just hypotheticals now, the trade deadline has ended and we will have to wait and see where Anthony Davis signs when that day comes.
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