Despite Jeanie Buss‘ insistence that the Lakers‘ reported offers for Anthony Davis last month were “fake news,” Shams Charania of The Athletic reiterates that L.A. made “several aggressive offers” for the Pelicans’ star, with Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, and Josh Hart all included in at least one proposal. However, sources told Charania that the Pelicans had no intent of moving Davis before the offseason, and especially not to the Lakers.
As we previously relayed this week, Buss and the Lakers reportedly believe that rival teams were leaking stories in order to hurt L.A.’s chemistry. However, Charania suggests that Buss may not have been aware of “every aspect of the play-by-play” of those trade discussions, and writes that the Pelicans were also frustrated by the public nature of the talks.
“We get off the phone with (the Lakers), and a minute later, offers are out there,” a Pelicans source said to Charania.
The idea that the Pelicans were leaking the trade offers to hurt the Lakers has become a popular – and somewhat logical – theory, but it hasn’t been confirmed, so the comments by Charania’s source shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand. It’s worth noting that most of the reports on those specific offers came from a Los Angeles-based source, the L.A. Times.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Sources tell Charania that the Lakers’ coaching staff and front office both wanted to add more shooting to the roster at the trade deadline, which was what led to the deals for Reggie Bullock and Mike Muscala. Bullock has been solid, but the trade for Muscala, which cost the team Ivica Zubac, hasn’t been a success so far.
- Speaking to Tania Ganguli of The Los Angeles Times (Twitter link), LeBron James expanded on what he means when he says that “inexperience” has been a problem for the Lakers this season: “You have four guys in our top-eight rotation that you have to really rely on and it’s unfair to them to ask for so much when they’re in their second or third year.”
- In a discussion on the Lakers’ season and future, a panel of ESPN.com writers primarily assigned the blame for a disappointing 2018/19 showing to the front office.
Isn’t that fair to leak the info. I mean Tragic can talk about any future player he wants. Correct? The problem with the Lakers is they miss Jerry Buss and it has been a train wreck ever since he passed. Most of the media and their fan base has yet to realize they are insignificant anymore they just happen to play in a NBA crazed major city. Really they could change their name to “ Knicks West”.
I’d say they miss Jerry West even more.
Trading Zubac to the Clips was a huge mistake. They should have traded Beasley to Atlanta with Cash considerations like Boston did with Bird or maybe to SAC who had cap space. At worst throw in a future 2nd but not Zubac.
Agreed.
Zubac is Randle all over again
Averaging 7 points a game and a restricted free agent after the season and was gonna be more expensive
Next season they could’ve let him go. They needed imo their best center this year for a playoff run.
The fact that the leak was via the LA Times just strengthens the theory that N.O. was behind it. Team execs generally have close relationships with local media. If the Pelicans leaked stuff through their own channels, they’d be recognized and called out.
What?
If you are looking for a culprit for leaked information, try Rich Paul. He’s the one that said Anthony Davis wanted traded. Then he said he would only sign with the Lakers. Then he said it was with 4 teams.
The Pelicans meanwhile took calls around the league, but waited until last to take calls from the Lakers and only took the calls once. The Pelicans owners then fired Demps showing she had no intention of dealing with the Lakers anyway. She has said from the start that she wanted to wait until this summer to see if the Celtics would offer Tatum. This is why Paul concocted the Davis will only sign wwith the Lakers.
From the article.
“… Charania suggests that Buss may not have been aware of “every aspect of the play-by-play” of those trade discussions, and writes that the Pelicans were also frustrated by the public nature of the talks.
“We get off the phone with (the Lakers), and a minute later, offers are out there,” a Pelicans source said to Charania.”
The Pels did not take calls only once. Maybe Benson; maybe even Demps, following Benson’s wishes. But the Laker & Pel OFFICES WERE IN REGULAR CONTACT. That’s how these things work. Nobody wants to plan blindly.
Also, the Pels could punish the Lakers by putting them in the same boat as they were (with a key player half in half out), by causing the schism between the FO & the LA youth by exposing their offers to trade them. The Celts probably have the same problem after Ainge got caught up in it.
There was no “only took the calls once”.
No. That’s not how it works.
The Times will go to prison rather than release who told them this news, but if you’re leaking something, you have to trust who you’re leaking to. The Lakers or Rich Paul are the likeliest culprits. Jeannie might not have known that, but her accusing the media of lying shouldn’t be taken lightly. Disgraceful.
How do you connect “trust who you’re leaking to” from Paul or the Lakers?
The Pels could easily sow discontent on a team they don’t like by calling up LA reporters and saying half the Lakers are on the block. They would not be lying too much if at all. Reporters are not going to care where the tip came from if it is a reliable source and their audience wants to know.
I know. The people on the internet are going to stop reading their local news, the sports syndications, the sports networks so they can read your B.S. You will put them all out of business. That’s what you think you’d like to do.
Several people have said Magic and Pelinka don’t know what they are doing.
Oh wise one, please tell us more of your hearsay. What did you learn at band camp?
Of course I read this: 1) Magic traded DeAngelo Russell who is now an All Star. 2) Magic didn’t re sign Brook Lopez who is a big part of the NBA leading Milwaukee Bucks. 3) When LeBron signed and they asked him who he’d like to play with. Look at the crew they brought in. Stephenson and Katavious-Pope, not even in the rotation. McGee, supposed to be partially responsible for trading Zubac. And Beasley who is now in China for getting into it with Walton. And Rondo whohas been injured. 4) Magic let Julius Randle go. 5) Magic refused to trade Ingram or the pick that took Ball for George or Kawhi. 6) Magic called Ball a Hall of Famer and said he wanted him to break all his records, and to hang his jersey next to his in the rafters. 7) And lastly Magic, Pelinka, Paul, and LeBron upset the New Orleans owner to the point that she wouldn’t deal with them, just like Pop and Pritchard wouldn’t. This created the 42 point loss to the Pacers, the lingering problem in the locker room, and the situation they are in now. This article was titled “Magic Doesn’t Know What He Is Doing.” They have some good points.
SPORTING NEWS, FEBRUARY 26: LAKERS LEFT WITH ONE BIG PROBLEM: DOES MAGIC KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING? Forgot Magic drafted Lonzo over Tatum and Fox.
Hell, we can all see that
very disappointed that Jeannie Buss would resort to the Trump tactic of blaming the media when it was her own side leaking the news. I always liked her, but I think she’s in over her head if she thinks blowing her credibility is a good tactic.
Man! I see darker days to come for the Lakers!