Woj: Celtics and Lakers Engaged with Pelicans on Anthony Davis Trade

[Froob]

Ainge must have a helluva plan if Kyrie leaves.

[teke184]

Ainge must have a helluva plan if Kyrie leaves.

The name I have heard come up within that plan is “Mike Conley”.

[sfernald]

This is the Celtics and Pelicans leaking (fake) involvement by the Celtics to force the Lakers to give up more. Most other reports have said the Celtics are not serious bidders for AD since Kyrie is likely to walk and AD won't stay.

But NOP have every incentive to try to make the appearance of a bidding war and the Celtics / Ainge are more than happy to help screw the Lakers.

In reality, the Lakers are the ONLY serious bidder for AD. The Knicks, Clippers, etc. have already dropped off.

I think Ainge already knows Kyrie will stay if they get AD. But he’s trying to keep that notion going so he can get AD for as cheap as possible. He will always just out-bid the Lakers best offer.

[mattyj]

#4 , Zo and Ingram enough? If I was the Lakers I would hold on to kuzma

If I’m the Pels and that’s the offer, I’m hanging up the phone.

*30km

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[karkinos]

pelicans lineup. the future death valley lineup.

ingram
kuzma
zion
culver
jrue

that's a sweet roster tbh

[donato]

Well they do have attendance problems. If you get Zion and also field a competitive team simultaneously it helps the bottom line. Also every draft is risky. Bird in the hand & all that.

I think Zion by himself will solve the majority of their attendance problems. And no doubt its risky to build through the draft. Im also one that doesn't think Zion is going to come in and be a top tier player right away. I think its going to take a couple years for him to tighten up his handle and tighten up his jumper before he really becomes a top tier player. So I personally think a long term rebuild around Zion would be the best route to go.

Yeah if I was the GM with limitless loot, I'd definitely stay young for a few years and be interested in picks more than they seem to be.

Seems like you think the same. My only potential explanation is money/attendance as stated above.

1. The Pels will be getting Zion and ticket sales have already increased over last year.

2. The Pels have spent big money on the new facilities, FO and the PHX trainer. Furthermore, the owner is a billionaire who also owns the far more valuable Saints. I don't think she's sweating the bottom line of the Pelicans. When you get to be in your 70's with that kind of money, money isn't as important. It all defers to what Grffin and Langdon think is the best in how they want to build the team.

[SlowPaced]

Among the current young Lakers, New Orleans covets Kuzma the most.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-sp-lakers-anthony-davis-kyle-kuzma-20190612-story.html

Why? He's not a good fit next to Zion, they play the same position. Ingram is a far better fit.

[Illmatic12]

Ainge must have a helluva plan if Kyrie leaves.

I expect Ainge will pull back at the last second once he accepts how risky this is

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't this straight out of his playbook? Make sure Boston's name is involved with trade talks for every superstar just so he can say later on "Oh, we were close but didn't do it" .. Ainge is just making sure Woj mentions Celtics so people won't criticize him for not getting involved.

Ultimately they'll just be used for leverage before AD gets sent to the Lakers. I can't see Boston overtaking the Lakers offer at the finish line given the uncertainty surrounding Davis and Irving. Once LA got lucky in the lottery and landed the #4 overall pick, many didn't want to admit it but it was basically a foregone conclusion at that point.

[Jables]

The beautiful part is that Danny will almost certainly also ruin AD to the Lakers period, and that probably means something to him


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I doubt they are even driving the price up, no one should be taking them seriously for this trade anymore.

[Illmatic12]

Among the current young Lakers, New Orleans covets Kuzma the most.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-sp-lakers-anthony-davis-kyle-kuzma-20190612-story.html

Why? He's not a good fit next to Zion, they play the same position. Ingram is a far better fit.

Kuzma is the only Lakers young guy who can potentially space the floor , which is important given Williamson's lack of shooting.
Also he can play small ball 5 next to Zion. It's a pretty good fit actually given that ZIon will cover up his defensive mistakes.

[Jazz9]

I have no dog in this fight but I have to admit that AD and LeBron playing together would be must see tv (that is if LeBron's still LeBron)

[LKN]

#4 , Zo and Ingram enough? If I was the Lakers I would hold on to kuzma

I would laugh into the phone and hang up if offered that for AD

[Klayforspicy]

Ainge must have a helluva plan if Kyrie leaves.

I expect Ainge will pull back at the last second once he accepts how risky this is

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't this straight out of his playbook? Make sure Boston's name is involved with trade talks for every superstar just so he can say later on "Oh, we were close but didn't do it" .. Ainge is just making sure Woj mentions Celtics so people won't criticize him for not getting involved.

Ultimately they'll just be used for leverage before AD gets sent to the Lakers. I can't see Boston overtaking the Lakers offer at the finish line given the uncertainty surrounding Davis and Irving. Once LA got lucky in the lottery and landed the #4 overall pick, many didn't want to admit it but it was basically a foregone conclusion at that point.

Same guy who passed on the likes of Paul George, Butler and Kawhi to retain middling talents like Rozier - who is now publicly disgruntled for being underutilized.

He had all these blue chips and was stingy about cashing them in, but now is going all in on player who has denounced his team publicly.

[BVB24]

New Orleans is about to make out with one hell of a haul. I'm kinda envious of their position.

I feel the opposite... If the trade ends up being what is being reported right now, which is:

Lakers get: AD

Pelicans get: 4th Pick + Lonzo + Ingram


That’s a STEAL by the Lakers. Highway robbery. We’re talking about a Top-6 player in the NBA who just turned 26 years old.. still a couple years away from his prime. Superstars win in this league, not Lonzo Balls & Brandon Ingrams.

[levon]

New Orleans is about to make out with one hell of a haul. I'm kinda envious of their position.

I feel the opposite... If the trade ends up being what is being reported right now, which is:

Lakers get: AD

Pelicans get: 4th Pick + Lonzo + Ingram


That’s a STEAL by the Lakers

What is anyone else offering?

[blind prophet]

I think Zion by himself will solve the majority of their attendance problems. And no doubt its risky to build through the draft. Im also one that doesn't think Zion is going to come in and be a top tier player right away. I think its going to take a couple years for him to tighten up his handle and tighten up his jumper before he really becomes a top tier player. So I personally think a long term rebuild around Zion would be the best route to go.

Yeah if I was the GM with limitless loot, I'd definitely stay young for a few years and be interested in picks more than they seem to be.

Seems like you think the same. My only potential explanation is money/attendance as stated above.

1. The Pels will be getting Zion and ticket sales have already increased over last year.

2. The Pels have spent big money on the new facilities, FO and the PHX trainer. Furthermore, the owner is a billionaire who also owns the far more valuable Saints. I don't think she's sweating the bottom line of the Pelicans. When you get to be in your 70's with that kind of money, money isn't as important. It all defers to what Grffin and Langdon think is the best in how they want to build the team.

I'm not so sure, the Pelicans were 25th in attendance at home only this year. 24th in attendance in the previous two years before that. Zion will help obviously as well. But there are also perks about being competitive today. Possible to land other FA. You could in theory move a quality piece for something later if need be.

It is also possible they are not keen on this draft class.

But I'm going to stick with wanting to help with the attendance department as a primary motivation.

[BNM]

https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-sp-lakers-anthony-davis-kyle-kuzma-20190612-story.html

Why? He's not a good fit next to Zion, they play the same position. Ingram is a far better fit.

Kuzma is the only Lakers young guy who can potentially space the floor , which is important given Williamson's lack of shooting.
Also he can play small ball 5 next to Zion. It's a pretty good fit actually given that ZIon will cover up his defensive mistakes.

Kuzma == .303 3FG%, 2nd worst in the league for any player that averaged > 5.0 3FGA/G.

Kuzma at the 5 == layup drill for the other team. They tried it with him and LeBron and it failed miserably so they quickly abandoned it.

I find it funny that the Lakers and NOP are fighting over a guy who is a bad fit next to Zion and doesn't want to play for a small market team.

At this point, I think the only reason NOP even wants him is to screw gut the Lakers as badly as possible.

[LKN]

Celtics shouldn’t be deterred for this reason:

LAL is desperate. You could tell but how hard Lebron’s lackeys are playing this game.

I have zero doubt Davis wants to go to LAL, but Lebron isn’t going to waste another year. Lebron is getting to the age where every year matters. So if they don’t get Davis, they won’t keep the cap space open till next offseason. They will use it to try to make a run next year.

Ding ding.... we have a winner. LAL already punted on a season with Lebron... he's way too old to do that again.

I also will be shocked if Lebron doesn't continue to fight nagging injuries like he did this year

Father time is undefeated

[Jedi32]

#4 , Zo and Ingram enough? If I was the Lakers I would hold on to kuzma

I would laugh into the phone and hang up if offered that for AD

And that's why you're on a message board and not a trade call.

[TheNewEra]

New Orleans is about to make out with one hell of a haul. I'm kinda envious of their position.

I feel the opposite... If the trade ends up being what is being reported right now, which is:

Lakers get: AD

Pelicans get: 4th Pick + Lonzo + Ingram


That’s a STEAL by the Lakers

What is anyone else offering?

Knicks offer with

3 pick and bundle of young players beat that easily