Just about a year ago, the Pelicans and Lakers agreed on a long anticipated trade. Anthony Davis had been refusing to play for the Pelicans for months. To make it worse, Davis was hell bent on meeting up with his love buddy, LeBron James, which limited the Pelicans’ options. One year later, I am going to say it. The Pelicans fleeced LA.
The Deal
Lakers Received: Anthony Davis
Pelicans Received: Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and three unprotected first round picks including 4th overall in the 2019 draft.
For the Lakers, getting AD gave them a chance at a title right away. They were at the top of the west when the corona virus came about and the season was suspended. However, Anthony Davis is going to be a free agent, and if he leaves, things could be flipped upside down. Odds are that he will not leave, but Lebron James is getting older, and the Lakers traded away all of their young talent. If LA does not get a championship, you can consider this trade a daylight robbery for the Pels.
For the Pelicans, I am already considering this trade to be a win. We have the legendary David Griffin to thank for giving the franchise something that Dell Demps could not for too damn long…a future. In their new environments, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Josh Hart have thrived.
Lonzo Ball
Ball has turned into the floor general he was expected to be coming out of UCLA. He is averaging 12.4 points, 7 assists, and 6.2 rebounds on 38.3% three point shooting. Before the season got suspended, he had played in a career high 56 games. Most importantly of all, Ball has built an amazing partnership with Zion Williamson.
Brandon Ingram
Ingram is another player who has transformed in New Orleans. In LA Ingram was looked at as inconsistent and nearing bust status. Take the pressure of LA off the man’s shoulders and he is a star. Ingram is now an All-Star averaging a career high, 24.2 points as game. He was shooting 38.7% from three before play was suspended. Like Ball, Ingram had played in 56 games. Ingram will likely be receiving a max extension this off-season.
Josh Hart
Hart is player who fits in New Orleans perfectly. He is fun guy who loves what he does and loves the city. He can consistently be seen on Twitter tweeting about his love for the city. Hart is also a spark plug on the court. If you have ever watched a Pels game, you know that he leaves it all of the floor every night. He is a key rotational piece who puts up 10.2 points and 6.5 rebounds a game.
Additional Pieces
Each of those guys are just the players who came from the Lakers. The Pels have a treasure chest of future picks. Also, David Griffin did what he does best on draft night and flipped the 4th overall pick from LA into the 8th, 17th, and 35th picks. This pick resulted in the selections of Jaxson Hayes (Atheltic Freak), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Young Prospect), and Didi Louzada (Joining the team next year). Let’s also not forget that AD sitting out caused the Pelicans to lose numerous games and increased lottery odds. We all know that resulted in us winning the lottery and getting the best prospect since 2003, if not ever.
There were so many other chain reaction moves that were made as a result of the AD trade. For example, signing J.J. Redick or the trade for Derrick Favors. If not now, the W on this trade will belong to the Pels in the future for sure. I’d argue that it does right now. Hold it.
