The Lakers weren’t able to get very far in talks with the Pelicans for Anthony Davis and team president Magic Johnson hinted that the team won’t prioritize a blockbuster trade this offseason, as Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com relays.
“That’s not going to change our plans this summer,” Johnson said of being unable to trade for Davis at the deadline. “It’s a great [free-agency] class, and we just want to get one of them.”
If the Lakers sign a maximum salary free agent this summer, they are unlikely to land Davis as a free agent during the following offseason, Windhorst explains. It would be difficult for the team to add maximum salary players in back-to-back offseasons with LeBron James‘ max deal also on the books.
Here’s more from Los Angeles:
- The most realistic path to finding a Davis-to-the-Lakers trade may involve a third team, Windhorst contends in the same piece. The Pelicans appeared uninterested in the Lakers’ young prospects at the deadline. However, Los Angeles’ prospects have value around the league and the franchise could ship them to another team this summer in order to build a package the Pelicans would prefer.
- The Clippers turned over a third of their roster at the trade deadline, but the team’s “tough guy” culture will remain unchanged, as Andrew Greif of the Los Angeles Times relays. Coach Doc Rivers said the team doesn’t “want any guy that’s not really ready for warfare because for us to make it [to the postseason], it’s going to be hard.”
- Rivers, who was previously more involved in the Clippers’ front office, was surprised that the two Los Angeles teams agreed to a trade. Rivers said past negotiations with the Lakers have been one-sided, as Greif passes along in the same piece. “I didn’t know we were doing business again because we have tried and it just has been no conversations [with the Lakers],” Rivers said. “It was good they wanted conversations.”
Last paragraph is clunky. Heads up!
Lakers suck. Trade LBJ and get some young studs
See AmicoHoops.com. That’s what they think too. Finally a writer has the guts to say the only thing LeBron cares about is LeBron.
Nothing in that weenie article about trading James.
“Sports” How about suggesting a trade.
Amico’s article is awesome. He nails it!
Shaq suggested trading LeBron to New Orleans. You could send everybody except AD to the Lakers.
I been saying this forever.
If u can get Zion for LBJ, you pair him with Kuz, Ingram, Ball, Hart instead of trading all of them for AD.
AD already is playing with a top 10 player this year (Jrue Holiday) , they aren’t winning anything because there’s nothing around those 2.
Jrue is a top ten player??
This year, yes.
He’s the #3 PG behind Harden & Westbrook.
(Curry is #6).. talking this year. Not all time. Not 2k19 ranking. This year.
And actually #11 overall behind Durant & Vucecic right now. So I was wrong about top-10, but I still think someone may disagree.
Davis went 1 for 3 tonight and scored 3 points in 28 minutes. Shaq said I know Davis doesn’t want to be there, but he can’t have games like this.
I wish Hoops Rumors could print the entire Amico Hoops article “Amico: LA frustrations with LeBron nothing new to Cleveland.” It’s fantastic. It says what the majority of writers know is absolutely 100% true, but are afraid to say it. Sam Amico is now hands down my favorite writer.
Boo hoo. Poor little babies. Nobody asked Amico to speak for “Cleveland” and he does not. He is supposed to report on basketball not whining about James leaving then going all sour grapes. His website is pulling back and going small.
Why would HR reprint an article, esp one so wimpering? We will see if they even mention it.
And not everyone is so obsessed with James regardless.
You can’t handle the truth! LOL Great article.
Bruh , this isn’t amico’s amigos.com ….. gtfo of here with your amicos hoops updates .. literally no one cares, and if they did they would go check the site out themselves. Go hoop your own amicos
Bruh, this is America with freedom of speech. Like the article says LeBron is thinking about himself. This is extremely well written, 100% true, and in my book deserves a Pulitzer Prize. Luke and his writers take articles from Amico Hoops too. Live with it bruh. Do you see all the italicized words in the articles and the source underlined. That means the article comes from another site.
They’re certainly better for having Tobias Harris and Boban. Scary team to face in the playoffs.
By the end of the season, Philly will be the best in the east.
Philly are not getting by Toronto or Boston.
I would have said that before they picked up Harris. Now, I am not so sure. I think of everyone they did one of the best jobs at the trading deadline
Are you the editor for them? You’re a little too excited to promote them as a regular fan.
Sounds like Doc is glad to be rid of Harris .. lol but all the Sixers phans claim they’re the best team in the east now.
I think it’s more like he’s still glad to be rid of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.
magic was great running an offense. however, his team management is at very low level.
so, magic wants to sign top free agents? no star wants to be a mebron’s sidekick. trade lebum!
I said it since day one: LeDIVA for AD straight up!
Pels probably say NO lol
Magic’s been consistent since he was hired and that is reflected in his FA vs trade priority. He’s made moves since he got there to open up and then retain cap space for 2 max FAs between last summer and this one coming up. He got LBJ, and his focus should be on getting the second. Then do trades. Failure on the FA front leaves some unattractive plan Bs and Cs. It will be difficult to roll over the cap space again (and Ingram will be a RFA the following summer). Using it in a trade would be a backup plan, but that’s a very inefficient use of cap space at this level.
It’s an either or with the cap space. If they acquire Davis, there will be no 2nd max free agent. If they sign a free agent this summer, there will be no Davis.