Michael Dwyer/Associated Press
New Orleans Pelicans general manager Dell Demps and special adviser Danny Ferry remain unmoved by the Los Angeles Lakers‘ attempts to acquire Anthony Davis, according to Fletcher Mackel of WDSU in New Orleans.
Mackel reported the belief in New Orleans’ front office is the team can land Jayson Tatum in a trade with the Boston Celtics.
The Los Angeles Times‘ Tania Ganguli and Broderick Turner reported earlier Monday the Lakers were prepared to offer Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, Michael Beasley and two first-round picks for Davis and Pelicans veteran Solomon Hill.
The Lakers are “growing increasingly pessimistic” they can complete a deal before the deadline, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
The Celtics can’t make a trade for Davis until July 1 because of league rules regarding players who signed rookie extensions under the “Rose Rule.” Boston already acquired Kyrie Irving, which prevents the team from adding another player on a rookie max deal.
That gives the Pelicans an incentive to wait out Davis’ trade request.
When looking at the most realistic outcomes for New Orleans, Tatum is probably the best asset it could land. The 20-year-old is averaging 16.1 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 37.3 percent from beyond the arc, and those numbers are somewhat underwhelming after his impressive rookie season.
Tatum could be the face of the Pelicans’ new era.
The situation may not be so straightforward, though.
Wojnarowski reported Davis wouldn’t intend on signing a long-term deal with the Celtics were the Pelicans to trade him to Boston. He can opt out after the 2019-20 season.
Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes brought up the “growing belief of uncertainty” about Kyrie Irving’s future with the Celtics, which came before Irving deflected questions about his impending free agency this summer.
Boston may not feel comfortable giving up Tatum for Davis without a firm assurance Davis will re-sign, and Davis might want to see what Irving decides before he commits to the Celtics beyond 2020.
Were the Celtics to effectively fall out of the Davis sweepstakes, the Pelicans would almost certainly lose some leverage, thus allowing the Lakers to amend the offer they’ve already put forward.
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