[ad_1]
For Anthony Davis, a potential blockbuster with the Lakers-Pelicans is tied to a player: Kyle Kuzma.
The Lakers would be trying to keep promising power out of trade negotiations, but the Pelicans remain committed to acquiring it, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Kuzma built on an impressive rookie season, scoring 20.3 points per game last season, and New Orleans covets more than any other 23-year-old Lakers star. However, the same feeling is shared within the organization of the Lakers, who is reluctant to part with him.
"It's the first time I show up with this stuff" Kuzma said in January when he appeared for the first time in Davis talks at the deadline. "It's always a good thing to be in commercial rumors. This means that you have value and potentially that you could be in this league long time. People want you … You can not control your destiny in this league, but you can control your work ethic and how good you want to be.
If the Lakers agreed to include Kuzma, they might be able to retain their No. 4 pick. But Kuzma is a known quantity and type of shooter that the Lakers would ideally want to have around Davis and LeBron James.
The Lakers put Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball at the disposal of the talks. The Celtics have also recently started commercial discussions with pelicans, but Davis' agent Rich Paul has made it clear that the striker would not sign with Boston.
"They can trade for him, but it will be for a year," said Paul at Sports Illustrated. "I mean, if the Celtics traded against Anthony Davis, we would go there and respect our contractual obligations. [obligations] and we would go to a free agency in 2020. I told them that. But in case he decides to go and give you goods? Do not blame Rich Paul. "
Kuzma was taken 27th in the first round of the 2017 draft, but made his way into the first NBA star team in 2018.
[ad_2]
Source link