Lakers Abruptly Pull the Plug, Won't Meet 'Outrageous' Demands To Get LeBron Co-Star - Report
Well, so much for another blockbuster NBA trade before the Feb. 7 deadline.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Lakers have pulled out of negotiations with the New Orleans Pelicans over the possible acquisition of All-NBA big man Anthony Davis.
While this might be good news over the long term, considering the Lakers reportedly were offering to trade away most of their assets to acquire Davis, it also means the Lakers will not be immediately contending for championships anytime soon.
That’s not something Lakers superstar LeBron James wants to hear or deal with as he plays in the latter part of his career.
According to the Times, the Lakers rebuffed New Orleans because its demands had gotten “outrageous.”
To be clear, LA might not be entirely wrong to feel that way.
The Lakers already were offering a bevy of young players, one of whom (Kyle Kuzma) has established himself as the second-best player on the team behind James, and some draft picks.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pelicans were demanding a “historic haul” of draft picks.
Pels are waiting on Lakers to overwhelm them w/ an historic haul of picks. To Nola, that means Lakers offering 4 first-round and second-round picks as part of a Davis package. Pels want to be compensated – perhaps even overcompensated – to even consider a deal with LA now. https://t.co/Ft8rfe9EBZ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 5, 2019
Four first-round picks and four second-round picks is an absurd amount of draft capital, even for a player the caliber of Davis.
LA President of Basketball Operations Earvin “Magic” Johnson, seemingly aware of the absurdity of such a demand, told Pelicans general manager Dell Demps that the Lakers had made their best offer and would not add anything to the deal, per the Times.
It’s hard not to view the Pelicans as a team petulantly holding onto a player who has said he would leave after next season, just to spite the Lakers.
The original reported trade package of Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kuzma, Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, Michael Beasley and two first-round picks would be an overwhelming haul for a player who has made it clear he’s leaving in 2020.
For the Lakers, it’s just more chaos for a team that is already dealing with copious amounts of it.
As good of a player as James is, his timeline was never going to fit with a bunch of 20-somethings in Los Angeles. He needs help sooner rather than later if he is going to win another championship. He can’t afford to wait for Ball, Ingram or Kuzma to reach the next level (assuming they ever will).
One point worth considering, as Wojnarowski notes, is that this could be a negotiation tactic from the Lakers. As much as it would gut the team, a foundation of Davis and James won’t need too much more help to legitimately challenge the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors.
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
Based on everything that’s being said so far, it looks like LeBron James is going to have to wait at least a little bit longer to get the help he so desperately needs.
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