After it was reported a week ago that the New Orleans Pelicans were asking for at minimum Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Ivica Zubac, and a first-round draft pick in exchange for Anthony Davis, it seems that that trade package was not enough to move the needle.
Now, it’s being reported by Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times that the Lakers have offered Ball, Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Rajon Rondo, Michael Beasley, Lance Stephenson, and two first-round picks in exchange for Davis and Pelicans swingman Solomon Hill. The inclusion of Hill is due to the Pelicans wanting some salary-cap relief.
It’s interesting that Ball, Rondo, and Stephenson are being included in the trade offer as the Lakers would be left with essentially just two players who could play the point guard position in James and Svi Mykhailiuk.
However, perhaps Lakers team president Magic Johnson is willing to put all his chips in for a generational type players in Davis. So far this season, the superstar big man is averaging 29.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and 2.6 blocks per game. A combination of James and Davis supplemented with any three other players on the court would not doubt vault the Lakers into championship contention.
The official trade deadline comes at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 7.
