Let the Anthony Davis Sweepstakes Begin!

*Note: this column was initially written on January 28, 2019.

It finally happened: Anthony Davis has requested a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans through his agent, Rich Paul. This has been building up for years, a seemingly inevitable scenario. Davis has been trapped with an organization that has proven to be inept at building a championship contender, despite having a premier NBA player every season since 2005 (except the 2011-12 season, the gap year between the Chris Paul and Davis eras).

It’s not often a truly generational talent becomes available. Paul George, Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard are elite NBA players, but they aren’t on Davis’ level. Nearly every single NBA franchise will have interest in acquiring Davis. But who actually has a shot at acquiring him?

The Frontrunners

Boston Celtics

The Celtics under most circumstances would be the far and away front runners, but due to a unique contract issue, the Celtics cannot make a trade for Davis without including Kyrie Irving until the summer. The so-called “Derrick Rose Rule” applies to players who signed max contract extensions after their rookie contracts expired. Both Irving and Davis signed those extensions, and the Celtics already traded for Irving. However, the Celtics can still control the market for Davis. The Pelicans know that the Celtics can make the best offer, so it would be in their best interest to wait until the summer, when the Celtics can make their best offer.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers have long been rumored to be Davis’ ideal destination. First of all, they are the Los Angeles Lakers, the premier NBA franchise who seemingly every star bigman has played for. Secondly, Davis’ agent is Rich Paul, LeBron James’ longtime business partner and friend. The Lakers are hell-bent on pairing James with another elite NBA player, and Davis might be the best possible running mate. If the Lakers put some combination of their young core (Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram) on the table, a deal is possible. The Lakers would also have potentially the best chance of any team to resign Davis next summer.

Fringe Contenders Looking to Make a Splash

Philadelphia 76ers

The fit of the Sixers core, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, has come into question this season. Could the Sixers put Simmons on the table in order to pair the two best big-men in the league? A package of Simmons, Markelle Fultz, Zhaire Smith and future picks (notably the 2021 Miami first rounder) would likely be enough to top any other offer – including Boston’s – if they Sixers wanted to. The quartet of Davis, Embiid, Jimmy Butler and T.J. McConnell (relax, I’m kidding) would make the Sixers Eastern Conference favorites.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors shocked the basketball world when they traded the face of the franchise, DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard last offseason. Raptors President, Masai Ujiri, desperately wants to bring a title to Toronto. If he were willing to part with Jonas Valanciunas, one or both of promising youngsters OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam, and future picks, the Raptors could bring another NBA star north of the border. This would give the Raptors a starting lineup of Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Serge Ibaka and Anthony Davis, with Normal Powell, CJ Miles, Fred VanVleet coming off the bench. That is a terrifying proposition for the rest of the Eastern Conference.

Denver Nuggets

While the Nuggets have shocked the league this season by holding the 2-seed in the Western Conference thus far, it remains to be seen whether this collection of talent can win a title. The Nuggets likely need to acquire a superstar to enter the NBA title conversation. Fortunately, the Nuggets are loaded with depth. A package centered around proven youngsters Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Trey Lyles and Paul Millsap (a large contract who remains a valuable veteran contributor) could entice the Pelicans more than unpredictable draft picks. A paring of Davis and Nikola Jokic, two big men who love to share the ball, would be entertaining as hell.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Thunder GM Sam Presti has a knack for making something out of nothing and a tendency of swinging for the fences. The Thunder have a dynamic duo on the wings of Russell Westbrook and Paul George locked up for the foreseeable future. Could Presti manage to flip Steven Adams and a collection of young talent and draft picks for Davis? It seems unlikely, but Prestin can never be counted out.

Houston Rockets

Another GM with a flair for the dramatic is Daryl Morey of the Rockets. The Rockets almost upset the Warriors last season, but it is possible that was the Rockets best opportunity at a title and they squandered it. To reopen the Rockets title window, Morey could offer Clint Capela, Eric Gordon and some combination of young players and draft picks. But like the Thunder’s offer, the Rockets best offer almost certainly falls short. 

Assets Galore

New York Knicks

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Knicks are going to be players in the AD sweepstakes. Kristaps Porzingis would be unlikely to resign in New Orleans, so he likely is off the table. If the Knicks are willing to put their unprotected 2019 first rounder (ZIONNNNNN???) on the table, the Pelicans would have to listen. A package of Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, Tim Hardaway Jr. (for contract purposes), their 2019 first rounder and additional picks could accelerate the Knicks rebuild and make them legitimate playoff contenders. If the Pelicans want to fully commit to a rebuild, the Knicks have the best collection of assets to meet that need.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers have been star-hunting ever since Jerry West joined the front office in the summer of 2017. They masterfully transitioned out of the Lob City era and have a surplus of assets to make a trade. An offer of rookies Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jerome Robinson, second-year forward Sindarius Thornwell, Danilo Gallinari’s contract and future picks could move the needle, but it seems unlikely. Although, if Davis is intent on playing in Los Angeles, perhaps the Clippers have more leverage than it seems on the surface.

Chicago Bulls

Davis’ hometown team is in a similar position as the Knicks. They are in rebuilding mode and currently tanking for Zion. If the Bulls offer nearly all their young talent – Zach LaVine and a combination of Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr. and Kris Dunn – they could end their rebuild prematurely as well. However, the complete dysfunction of the Bulls management would make Davis resigning past 2020 unlikely.

The Nuclear Option

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors seemed destined to win their fourth championship in the last five years. The future beyond this season does not look quite as bright, however. Demarcus Cousins always was a one-year rental. Klay Thompson will be a free agent this offseason, as will Kevin Durant should he decline his player option (which seems likely). Draymond Green’s contract expires after next season. The Warriors could look to shuffle up their core in order to extend their championship window. It would be tough for New Orleans to turn down an offer of Kevin Durant, but (luckily for the sake of humanity) they would have to because there’s a near-zero percent chance Durant would resign there.

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The Davis sweepstakes will dominate headlines until the day a trade occurs, and rightfully so. The Anthony Davis sweepstakes will define the NBA. No player as talented as Davis has been traded since Kareem was traded from the Bucks to the Lakers in 1975. The team that acquires him becomes instant title contenders for the better part of the next decade. Basketball fans: buckle up for a wild ride.