Reports: Lakers pump brakes on more Anthony Davis offers
The Los Angeles Lakers have made their intentions for New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis clear and are waiting to hear back, per varied reports Tuesday afternoon.
The Lakers made an offer for Davis, who included the team as one of four with whom he’d be willing to sign a long-term deal. Davis becomes a free agent in 2020. When the Pelicans were reportedly underwhelmed, the Lakers beefed up the deal Monday.
Lakers await word on best offer
The Los Angeles Times’ Broderick Turner reported that the Lakers “pulled out” of any additional conversations in the trade negotiations. Per the report, Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson felt the team had made the “best offer that the Pelicans wanted” and did not want to add anything else. If New Orleans Pelicans general manager Dell Demps was not pleased with it, the Lakers would simply move on, per the report.
The deal as of late Monday night, according to the L.A. Times:
Pelicans acquire:
Players: Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brando Ingram, Josh Hart, Ivica Zubac, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Picks: Two first-round selections
Lakers acquire:
Solomon Hill, whose final year at $12.7 million will give Pelicans salary relief.
Anthony Davis, who, for what it’s worth, seems to be a fan of the deal.
Appears that Anthony Davis is a fan of the final offer from LA to NOLA pic.twitter.com/zKLefEWF5p
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) February 5, 2019
The Times reported that the Lakers were not willing to give the Pelicans the six to eight draft picks they wanted. The original deal included Rajon Rondo, Michael Beasley and Lance Stephenson.
“They wanted more and more and more,” the Times quoted a source as saying. “… But the more they wanted the more it became outrageous and unrealistic.”
The report included a note that the Pelicans may be hoping if Davis isn’t traded by the deadline, he’ll take back his request and decide to play for New Orleans.
Lakers don’t want to be own worst enemy
Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday afternoon that the Lakers are still in for Davis, but “no longer want to bid against themselves.” He said the team is waiting for the Pelicans to make a counter-proposal.
If Pelicans want to counter the Lakers most recent offer on Davis, Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka are obviously anxious to find a pathway for a trade. This is a negotiation tactic on behalf of Lakers, who have wanted New Orleans to show more initiative in the process. https://t.co/A18urbnu6h
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 5, 2019
The Lakers don’t want to give away more than they have to, seeing as they’re giving away quite a lot as it is. There are 48 hours until the trade deadline for the teams to get the deal done.
Davis reportedly would sign a long-term deal with the Lakers, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks or the Los Angeles Clippers, if traded. The Lakers are in one of the better positions to make the deal.
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