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Los Angeles Lakers still have the best package for Anthony Davis

By Jason Reed

DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 18: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans walks off the court against the Dallas Mavericks in the first half at American Airlines Center on March 18, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 18: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans walks off the court against the Dallas Mavericks in the first half at American Airlines Center on March 18, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers tried desperately to trade for Anthony Davis during the NBA Trade Deadline and failed, but still have the best possible package to send.

The Los Angeles Lakers‘ ship started to really sink this season after all of the trade rumors surfaced regarding Anthony Davis. After signing LeBron James in the offseason, the front office appeared ready to trade the entire young core for Davis.

The tension resulting from that, alongside some untimely injuries and poor management and coaching led to the Lakers missing the postseason for the sixth straight year while also snapping LeBron James’ eight-year NBA Finals streak.

The focus, as it has been the last several years, is now on the offseason and the massive looming move the front office can make (now without Magic Johnson) is trading for Anthony Davis. This possible trade appears unlikely but one thing that should not be confused is the fact that the Lakers have the best possible package for Davis.

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Some people seem to believe that the Lakers are behind in the trade package. Notable basketball mind Bill Simmons said on his podcast, The Bill Simmons Podcast, with Ryen Russillo that several teams have a better trade than the Lakers.

One proposed package that Simmons brought up that would trump any Lakers package would be a package consisting of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Montrezl Harrell, Danilo Gallinari and the Miami Heat 2021 first-round pick. While it is a nice package, it is not better than the Lakers can send.

Gilgeous-Alexander has been a standout rookie with all-star potential. However, considering all areas of the game, Lonzo Ball is at least even with Gilgeous-Alexander in terms of value, if not better because of his elite defensive skills.

Gallinari is a one-year rental that gives the Pelicans literally nothing to look forward to and Harrell is a promising young big-man that is on an expiring contract.

This would mean that the Pelicans would then have three of their best five players, Gallinari, Harrell and Julius Randle as free agents no later than next summer. That leaves the team with an inflated Jrue Holliday contract, Gilgeous-Alexander and a Heat draft pick that we are assuming will be bad.

Meanwhile, if the Lakers really wanted to they could send a package of Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and the team’s 2019 first-round pick. Ingram is making strides and is arguably already better than Gallinari and the same can be said about Kuzma and Harrell.

And while the draft pick is not going to be high in the lottery, at least the Pelicans know what they are getting and can get it now instead of waiting for two years and hoping that the Heat fall off.

The best part? The Pelicans can actually build towards the future with this young core. It would the Lakers’ roster fairly depleted, but I would not put it past this front office to make this kind of deal.

Another potential fit is the Boston Celtics, who really have no business trading for Davis. There is a high chance that the team loses Kyrie Irving this summer and then would be extremely foolish to flip both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown for one year of Davis.

Nothing quite matches the Lakers’ offer, regardless of how you spin it. Want to bring up Brandon Ingram’s health as the center argument for why he cannot be the centerpiece of a trade?

All signs are pointing in the right direction for Ingram’s blood clot after surgery and it does not appear to be significant, as Chris Bosh‘s was a few years ago. Ingram is set to make a full recovery by July-August.

Next. Where each expiring Laker should sign. dark

It is still going to be hard to get done. The Pelicans might not want to give into the Lakers’ demands after how ugly this got and the team might even want to go a different direction with a free agent.

However, if it really comes down to it, the Los Angeles Lakers still have the best trade package for Anthony Davis, regardless of how it is spun.

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