The Los Angeles Lakers are hoping to mount their first deep playoff run since their 2020 championship triumph this season.
They’re 1-0 up against the 2-seed Memphis Grizzlies and can pull off the upset after injuries on the Grizz. Anthony Davis had 22 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 7 blocks in Game 1 for a complete defensive shutdown. The performance has prompted Bill Simmons to say that the Lakers won the 2019 trade to acquire AD from the New Orleans Pelicans.
“What we saw from Davis today and the ceiling that he gives you, and L.A. already won a title. I was adamant like, ‘Hey look you win the trade if you win the title, but man they gave up too much.’ I think I have to wave the white flag. Russillo, they might have won the trade.”
It's time to rehash the Anthony Davis trade: Did the Lakers or Pelicans win the trade?@BillSimmons and @ryenarussillo revisit the trade (yet again) on the #BSPodcast.
[There's No Safe Like @SimpliSafe] pic.twitter.com/rkCQK44iTJ
— The Ringer (@ringer) April 17, 2023
The 2020 championship makes the trade worth it and the Lakers would do it every single time. The Pelicans didn’t fully build the contender everyone expected them to, primarily due to injuries to stars like Zion Williamson torpedoing the last 4 seasons in NOLA. This trade may be a win-win but the Lakers definitely didn’t lose given how the trade has played out over the last 4 years.
What Did The Lakers Trade Away And How Has It Paid Out?
The Lakers received Anthony Davis in the trade while the Pelicans received Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and three first-round draft picks. This included the 4th pick in the 2019 Draft, the 8th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, a pick-swap for the 2023 NBA Draft (which won’t convey), and a protected pick that the Pelicans can take in 2024 or defer to 2025.
The Pelicans used the 4th pick in 2019 to select De’Andre Hunter and trade him to the Hawks for Jaxson Hayes, who’s still on the roster. The 8th pick in 2022 became Dyson Daniels, a promising young player that could be a fantastic selection with time. The pick-swap this season won’t be happening because the Lakers will have a worse pick because of their better record, so only one pick is left for the Pelicans.
Out of the 3 players they received, only Brandon Ingram is still on the roster. Lonzo Ball was sign-and-traded away to the Chicago Bulls in 2021 and Josh Hart was sent to the Portland Trail Blazers to acquire C.J. McCollum.
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