LOS ANGELES, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Los Angeles Lakers is expected to acquire three-time All NBA first teams' forward Anthony Davis after reaching a trade deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, local media disclosed Saturday.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, an American sports columnist currently working for ESPN, the Lakers had agreed to trade Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball, and three first round draft picks, including the No. 4 pick that Lakers just grabbed at 2019 NBA Draft Lottery, to the Pelicans for Davis.
This deal could be finalized as early as July 6, Wojnarowski said, adding the Lakers were ultimately able to keep the last young core for future Kyle Kuzma after tough negotiations.
After rebuilding through the NBA Draft for five seasons, the Lakers is still struggling to fight into the play-off games in the West Conference, so the 16-time NBA champion is eager to land a second All-Star player via trade alongside LeBron James next season.
Lakers tried this January to trade Anthony Davis from the Pelicans after his trade request, however, the Pelicans refused the offer to trade Davis to his preferred destination and wanted to wait for offers from the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks.
All the things have changed since the Lakers landed the No. 4 pick at the last Thursday's Draft Lottery while the Celtics and Knicks did not fare as well. So that if the Pelicans would not take Laker's offer, next year they will lose Davis for free, who did not change his stance on the trade request so far.
"While it is extremely difficult to trade Ball, Ingram, and Hart, Davis fulfills the team's short- and long-term goals. At just 26-years-old, the six-time All-Star player can help the Lakers win now and for at least the next 6-7 seasons," Lakers Nation, the club's official fans group, said on its website Saturday.
There is a scenario where Lakers could still sign a third All-Star player and in addition, more players may be willing to take pay cuts in order to join the three All-Star players in Los Angeles, the Lakers Nation said.
