How will the NBA world react to Power Forward/ Center (PF/C) Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans (NO) trade request?
Recently, NBA Superstar Davis has requested a trade from the team that drafted him and he’s looking to compete at the level he’s failed to achieve throughout his NBA career so far.
According to Adrian Wojnarowksi of ESPN, “he wants to be traded to a team that allows him a chance to win consistently and compete for a championship”.
Davis has really never had the talent with him to make an impact in a star-studded Western Conference. Besides having Center (C) DeMarcus Cousins for a short period of time, the next biggest star he’s ran with in the league is Guard (G) Jrue Holiday. Holiday himself has a big basketball IQ and was a past all-star, however he isn’t the talent to help Davis get to the next level.
There was once a time however that Davis played with the top-tier of the league and he was spoiled with talent. Before even playing one minute in the NBA, he was selected to team USA in 2012.
He was beyond blessed to be on the same team as NBA greats that include: Shooting Guard (SG) Kobe Bryant, Small Forward (SF) LeBron James, (SF) Carmelo Anthony, (SF) Kevin Durant, (G) Russell Westbrook, and (SG) James Harden.
The end result of that team was a trip to the championship and a gold medal. He wants to relive those glory days; the days that didn’t make him exert all his energy to just be a sub-par contender as well as an underachieving superstar.
Davis has the opportunity to make the that next leap, so long as the Pelicans grant him his trade request. Although, they will do everything in their power to keep Davis even though he’s adamant about not signing an extension with them.
Now, who’s in the sweepstakes for Davis? Everyone.
From the last place Phoenix Suns (PHO) to the Golden State Warriors (GS), everyone has is all in. Just as long as they have the assets to match the talent of Davis.
Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers (LAL), New York Knicks (NYK), Chicago Bulls (CHI), Toronto Raptors (TOR), Warriors, and the Boston Celtics (BOS) are in prime position to make an offer for the league’s best big man.
With the Lakers being highly anticipated to depart from their core, the question arises which exact players that includes? It looks like everyone besides Forwards (F) Kyle Kuzma and LeBron James could be traded.
The Knicks could depart from (G) Frank Ntilikina, (G) Allonzo Trier, (C) Mitchell Robinson, or (G/F) Kevin Knox.
Warriors could say goodbye to (F) Draymond Green, (SF) Andre Iguodala, and more.
If Point Guard (PG) Kyrie Irving wants out, what’s stopping the Celtics from trading him for Davis? They could send Irving, (G/F) Gordon Hayward, (C) Robert Williams, (PF/C) Al Horford or draft picks to New Orleans. The Celtics have assets and their ready to make a move if it makes their team better.
The Chicago Bulls could make a statement and bring Davis back to his hometown. Some players that could be on the trade block are (F) Jabari Parker, (C) Wendell Carter Jr., Bobby Portis, (F) Denzel Valentine, or (G) Zach LaVine.
Lastly, what’s one way to ensure keeping Kawhi Leonard in Toronto? That’s making a big splash and going all in. The Raptors have the talent to trade for Davis with players like (C) Jonas Valenciunas, (PF) Pascal Siakam, (PG) Fred VanVleet, (PF) Serge Ibaka, or (G/F) OG Anunoby.
Now team executives have until February 7 3 p.m. ET to make a offer in Davis sweepstakes or it will flow into the 2019 offseason.
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