Report: AD traded to Lakers for Ball, Ingram, Hart, 3 first-rounders
Anthony Davis is getting his wish.
The New Orleans Pelicans will trade Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and three first-round picks, including the No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 draft, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The move pairs Davis in Los Angeles with fellow Klutch Sports Group client LeBron James.
Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin may not be done yet, either. Other teams have already begun expressing interest in acquiring the fourth overall pick from New Orleans, sources told Wojnarowski.
New Orleans could potentially have control of the Lakers' draft picks until 2025. Along with the No. 4 pick in this year's draft, the Pelicans will also receive a top-eight protected pick in 2021 (becomes unprotected in 2022), an unprotected first-rounder in 2024, and the right to swap picks in 2023 and 2025, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps. Los Angeles is already without second-round picks in 2019 and 2021.
The Lakers, meanwhile, are also shifting focus to their next move. Impending Charlotte Hornets free agent Kemba Walker is reportedly expected to be the franchise's top target after landing Davis.
Davis requested in January to be traded after informing the Pelicans he wouldn't sign an extension. The Lakers were reportedly in constant negotiations to attempt to acquire the six-time All-Star up until the trade deadline but couldn't reach an agreement until now.
One notable exclusion from the blockbuster is Kyle Kuzma. His name was mentioned in talks earlier this year but the Lakers were reportedly unwilling to deal the forward now.
Los Angeles was able to reach an agreement without trading Kuzma, but reluctance from other franchises to include their own young stars may have kept them from landing Davis. The Boston Celtics refused to make Jayson Tatum available in discussions with the Pelicans, according to The New York Times' Marc Stein.
Davis, 26, averaged 25.9 points, 12 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.4 blocks per game in his seventh season. Though he now appears to be headed to his preferred destination, the big man won't immediately sign an extension with the Lakers and will still become a free agent next summer, Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes reports. However, Davis still intends to sign a new contract with the Lakers when he's eligible for free agency in 2020, Wojnarowski notes.