Report: Lakers, Celtics Begin Anthony Davis Trade Talks With Pelicans
The race for Anthony Davis appears to have kicked off on Wednesday as the Lakers and Celtics are engaged in trade talks with the Pelicans, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Davis requested a trade from New Orleans on January 28. The 26-year-old, who becomes a free agent after the 2019-20 season, will likely leave Boston after one year if he is dealt to the Eastern Conference contender. Despite that, Boston has thus far been "undeterred" by the threat.
Davis listed his preferred destinations for a trade on June 5 and is reportedly seeking a deal to the Lakers, Knicks or Clippers.
Los Angeles' No. 4 pick in this year's NBA draft has become a valuable trade piece as the talks surrounding Davis intensify. The Lakers could parlay the pick to a third team, who in turn can send the Pelicans a "high-level player," per Wojnarowski.
The Lakers targeted Davis at the trade deadline in February, but discussions ended after the two sides could not agree to a deal.
Here's the latest rumors on Davis around the NBA:
• The Pelicans want Kyle Kuzma as part of a trade package with the Lakers for Davis. Los Angeles does not want to trade Kuzma. (Tania Ganguli, Los Angeles Times)
• The Lakers have made Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and the No. 4 pick of the 2019 draft available in talks with the Pelicans. New Orleans hopes to assemble a three-teams-or-more deal more before surrending Davis in a trade. (Marc Stein, New York Times)
• The Lakers and Celtics are trying to negotiate independent deals with the Pelicans for Davis. The Lakers' No. 4 draft pick would be used in a multi-team deal that does not include the Celtics. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN)
