A Few Thoughts on Anthony Davis's Future in the NBA

To no one's surprise that watches a good amount of the NBA, Anthony Davis has requested a trade from New Orleans. He has come out since this morning and said that he wants to finish the season there, and he is willing to wait until then, but he wants out.

I have a few thoughts.

First off, these players need to stop coming out and saying they want out. The players in professional sports leagues have so little power, and when they come out and request a trade, that gives all the power to their current team, and really handcuffs their wanted destination and themselves. Just wait until the offseason, and do this behind closed doors. In this day and age of social media I know that is hard, but if you put in the effort, it can be done. I just want these players to not give what little bit of power they have to the front office. Look out for you if you want to be on a different team.

Second, I'm pretty sure he wants to be a Laker. This has been the rumor all year long, and now that he has formally requested a trade, it seems like they are the one and only contender. I don't think they are, more on that in a minute. But, if he were to become a Laker this season, what changes in the West? Yes, pairing LeBron with AD would make for a great duo, but think of the players they would have to give up. I'm pretty sure the Pelicans are going to pass on all the one year contract guys. I'm pretty sure they don't want Rajon Rondo back. I'm also pretty sure they would pass on Michael Beasely, Javale McGee and Lance Stephenson. The Pelicans are going to want a humongous haul, and they are going to want the young guns. If I were them, and I was going to move AD within the conference, I would, just to start out, ask for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma. Then, I would ask for one of Josh Hart or Kentavious Caldwell Pope, and, at the very least, 2 picks. And if the Lakers say no, I would immediately pull the offer and look for another team. If you are going to part with your best player, the player you took number one overall and have built your team around, you should want a king's ransom. And, as I said before, with AD publicly saying he wants out, the Pelicans have all the power. They hold all the cards, and if any deal isn't to their liking, they can just walk away. They can do that this offseason too. They are in prime position to get the very best deal.

So, if the Lakers are willing to trade all those guys, and picks, sure they get AD, but does that put them above the Warriors, Rockets, Nuggets, Thunder and Trailblazers? I don't think so. LeBron and AD are great, wonderful players. LeBron is the best player in league. AD may be the best big man. But those 5 teams I mentioned have a much better team around them. If AD joins the Lakers via a mega deal filled with young guys, their starting five for the playoffs would be Rondo at the 1, Hart at the 2, LeBron at the 3, AD at the 4 and that either McGee or one million year old Tyson Chandler at the 5. All 5 of the teams I mentioned are better than that Lakers lineup. So, at best, if AD were to join the Lakers, I feel like they would be the 5 seed, and a first round out in the playoffs. Those other 5 teams are so much better than them with the Blazers being closest in talent. I also think it might handcuff their future, and their ability to get another big star this offseason. That is just my opinion.

Also, I feel like the Lakers being the top bet to land him is all about GM LeBron once again. This is what he does. He goes to a team and changes it all. Coaches and young players be damned, LeBron is going to get guys he wants to play basketball with. If this trade goes down, with all the young guys, this will prove that LeBron runs the team. I will hear no one say that this was Rob Pelinka and Magic Johnson's idea. I won't buy Jeanie Buss saying that this was the plan all along. I won't hear any NBA journalist say this was a great front office move. This would all be about who LeBron wants to play the game with. I also think this trade would doom Luke Walton more than he already is. This would be the nail in his coffin, especially if they are a first round out. He is as good as gone regardless of what happens, because the "powers that be" want him out.

Finally, I want to talk about a few other teams that I think would be a possible better fit. The team I want him to join is the 76ers. I love love love the idea of him playing next to Joel Embiid. I love him running the pick and roll with Ben Simmons. I think he would be an ideal guy for Jimmy Butler because AD goes so hard. This would push them over the top, and they would only have to give up picks and a few players. I'm sure the Pelicans would take a flyer on Markelle Fultz. I'm sure they would also want some guys like JJ Redick, TJ McConnell and both of their rookies. And the 76ers would happily oblige to add AD. I like the idea of him joining the Spurs to play with Greg Poppovich. They would have to give up DeRozan, Patty Mills, Jakob Poeltl and a guy like Brynn Forbes. But man, a lineup with AD, LMA, Dejounte Murray and a few young guys they have would be nice. I think if Toronto is willing to take another guy that may leave this offseason, this would put them over the top in the East. AD and Kawhi Leonard would be better than Embiid and AD. They would lock it up on the defensive end. The Raptors would have to fracture their youth, but they have a much, much better shot at the Finals than the Lakers, so it is worth it.

When it is all said and done, I feel like AD will be a Laker, but it will come at a tremendous cost. I also think that "Laker Nation" would be ecstatic at first, but when they run into the buzz saw of teams like the Thunder, Nuggets and Rockets, it would blow up in their face. And then just imagine them facing the Warriors. The Warriors don't need any added incentive to kick team's asses, especially since Boogie is back, and looks really good. Now imagine how much they would want to destroy a team that has AD and LeBron. It would be brutal.

I wish AD would stay in New Orleans. I wish he would try and build a contender. I feel like he is taking the easy way out. I feel like the young stars in the NBA aren't used to losing, and they want to win easily, so they are taking the easy way out. I do hope, wherever he ends up, AD is happy. I enjoy watching him play, and he is great. I just don't want him to leave New Orleans. Especially not for LA.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

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