Los Angeles Lakers: If Anthony Davis comes so will Kyrie Irving
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers biggest target in the coming offseason is Anthony Davis. With Davis, though, will come another very notable superstar.
Right now, the biggest focus for the Los Angeles Lakers should be going on a nice run in the second half and securing a spot in the NBA Playoffs. While the team likely won’t get by the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference, that playoff experience would be good for the players and the fanbase alike.
At the very least it could serve as something to build on for the coming years, even if most of the current roster is ripped apart for superstar acquisitions.
The big fish that the Lakers will chase this offseason and were chasing at the NBA Trade Deadline is Anthony Davis. Former New Orleans Pelicans general manager Dell Demps (who was fired after this whole ordeal) kept driving up the price until the Lakers finally backed out.
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With Demps out, there is a good chance that the Lakers can restart discussions with the Pelicans and get a deal done. However, there is still the possibility that the Los Angeles Lakers miss out on Davis if the team trades him to their bitter rivals, the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics could theoretically match any offer that the Lakers can send. Realistically, both team’s “A package” is probably the same in terms of value and will present the Pelicans with a decision to make.
It wouldn’t be all that surprising though to see the Pelicans go with the Celtics instead of the Lakers to keep him out of the Western Conference and not give him, or LeBron James, what they want.
However, for the Celtics, it is hard seeing the team make a push for Davis if it looks like Kyrie Irving is going to leave Boston. While they would still be a great team, it would be silly to trade for a potential rental without the long-term cushion of having Kyrie Irving.
Irving could bolt to the New York Knicks, or even better, the Los Angeles Lakers. You have probably heard the rumblings of Irving and LeBron teaming back up and it will undoubtedly happen: not if the Celtics trade for Anthony Davis, but if the Lakers do.
The Los Angeles Lakers are going to have to send Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball to the Pelicans for Davis. It is hard to see the Lakers getting him for less than that unless the Celtics back out and there really are no potential suitors.
That obviously leaves an opening at point guard and leaves the Lakers enough money to sign Irving. He will not get a max deal, however, he still can get a hefty $30 million contract.
Los Angeles, with LeBron and Davis, is more appealing than the New York Knicks with maybe Kevin Durant and maybe Zion Williamson. Of course, Irving will know by then whether or not those two are in New York, but one thing to keep in mind is James Dolan.
The owner of the New York Knicks has a terrible reputation of handling players and someone like Irving will not mesh well with that setting.
However, in LA, the Lakers present Irving essentially with a better version of the Cleveland Cavaliers, replacing Kevin Love with a top-five player in Davis.
The team would have to figure out how to fill out the roster with veteran minimum contracts and what not but Davis and LeBron alone is a scary team. LeBron, Davis and Kyrie Irving might be one of the best threesomes of all time.
Next. Bold predictions for the second half. dark
You heard it here first. If the Los Angeles Lakers managed to get Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving will be on his way shortly thereafter.