With just over a week left before the NBA trade deadline the rumor mill is in full swing, as some teams look to complete a last-minute addition to their rosters, while other lay down the groundwork ahead of the summer.
News that Anthony Davis wants to leave the New Orleans Pelicans has put the entire league on high alert, with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics understood to be ready to open negotiations with the Pelicans.
While virtually every franchise in the NBA would love to add the five-time All-Star to their roster, the Lakers and the Celtics are considered the favorite to land the 25-year-old. Los Angeles is reportedly Davis' preferred destination and he shares an agent with LeBron James, while the Celtics have a number of assets they can dangle in front of the Pelicans.
While Davis' future will continue to occupy NBA columns for the foreseeable future—particularly as New Orleans doesn't seem interested in trading him before the deadline—an interesting subplot involving his two main suitors has begun to emerge.
On Tuesday, Rich Bucher of Bleacher Report suggested that Kyrie Irving was "genuinely interested" in joining forces with LeBron James again, just over two years after he demanded to be traded to Boston to step out of his the four-time MVP's shadow.
While the prospect of LeBron and Irving playing on the same team again sounds more than a little weird, the latter has worked out to patch up their relationship. Earlier this month, the 2016 NBA champion revealed he had spoken with LeBron and apologized for the way he handled criticism when they shared the court in Cleveland.
Irving's reported opening to the Lakers comes a particular intriguing time, as on Monday Yahoo Sports reported that there was a "growing belief" he will not re-sign with Boston this summer.
The 26-year-old has can exercise a player's option to get out of his contract this summer and explore his options as a free agent.
Irving's alleged reluctance to extend his stay in Boston could also be a major factor for Davis, who is close friends with the point guard and reportedly wouldn't consider Boston as a primary choice if Irving left.
Even if Davis had his sights set on the Celtics, they would not be able to sign him until July 1.
The league wouldn't allow Davis's and Irving's contracts together on the roster under the designated rookie exception, which allows players coming off their rookie-scale deals to make up to 30 percent of the salary cap, rather than 25 percent.
While it is premature to suggest Irving and Davis could join LeBron in California, the Lakers are acutely aware of the need to add another All-Star alongside the 34-year-old. When James swapped Cleveland for Los Angeles last season, it seemed almost a foregone conclusion that the Lakers would recruit another big name.
However, Kawhi Leonard was traded to Toronto and would reportedly prefer the Clippers to the Lakers, while Paul George signed a contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Jimmy Butler has not listed the Lakers as his preferred destination either.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Dan Cancian is currently a reporter for Newsweek based in London, England. Prior to joining Newsweek in January 2018, he was a news and business reporter at International Business Times UK. Dan has also written for The Guardian and The Observer.
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