Anthony Davis Names New York As A Desired Trade Destination

On Monday afternoon, reports surfaced that Anthony Davis had settled on the two teams he wants to call home long-term: the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks. Coming as no surprise, Davis has been visibly and verbally displeased with his current situation with New Orleans Pelicans.

As recently as Draft Lottery Night, Davis made it clear that he wanted out, in spite of the fact that his team got the number one overall pick. With both the Knicks and the Lakers having the third and fourth overall picks, respectively, in the upcoming draft, either team could make a play at Davis. With the ground getting a bit more stable, the Knicks are going to have to make a decision on Davis soon.

Here’s an Update

As of Thursday morning, Davis was still metaphorically sporting a Pelicans jersey. His team has began to consider inquiries into landing him. Though he has also named the Knicks, the Lakers seem to be the front runner in this race. Certain sources reported the Lakers have offered a deal that includes Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball in exchange for Davis. The Lakers’ number four pick in the upcoming draft is also highly speculated to be a part of the deal. The Celtics are said to also be trying to outfit a trade package, but Davis’s agent, Rich Paul, has stated that a successful trade would only result in a one year rental for Boston.

To date, the Knicks have yet to make an offer for Davis. However, a possible trade would likely render players such as Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina as well as the team’s coveted number 3 pick to New Orleans. Of course, there are pros and cons about dealing the pick, as it is anticipated that the Knicks will use it to land R.J. Barrett.

Anthony Davis, R.J. Barrett, and the Future

In prior articles, I discussed that what the Knicks would be giving up in order to get Davis. Without any guarantees that he would stay, he would be nothing more than a one-year rental for New York as well. However, if Davis is looking for a new permanent home, his presence could be the kind of thing that helps keep New York in the winning column. Still, the front office has to weigh what he has done in this league thus far. According to Stephen A. Smith, Davis is a top 5 player that is both an offensive and defensive threat to most teams. At only 26 years old, he still has a lot of basketball left to play. There is no doubt that he is a phenomenal talent, there is just a doubt about if he is worth it.

R.J. Barrett, who has already worked out with the team, has expressed his desire to be a Knick. With the third overall pick in the draft, the Knicks could certainly make that a reality. Moreover, Barrett is teeming with the kind of potential that Davis has yet to show in his seven years with the League. That’s not to say that Davis will never become the kind of player he was projected to be. It just means he hasn’t shown himself as that kind of player just yet.  The Knicks have no guarantee that Davis will make the kind of splash that the front office may be hoping for. Thus, it may be worth it to give a prospective player a chance as opposed to an unproven seven-year veteran.

In Conclusion

At the end of the day, New Orleans as an organization will have the last word on all of this. As expected, the team will do whatever seems to be in their best interest. New York also has to put their best interest above all else. Davis may be able to help lead New York into the future. The Knicks need to weigh their options carefully. As this story continues to unfold, it may not be a bad idea for the Knicks to at least call the Pelicans.