Sources: Lakers' hopes fading for Davis trade
The Lakers last offer is insane. I don't think the Pelicans are going to do better than this for AD.
Porter for Portis and Parker is a pretty big deal from a talent perspective, but is kind of a throwaway story tonight.
The Lakers had all of those guys this year and last and minus LeBron it doesn't even make you a playoff team - whereas AD made the Pels a playoff team last year with just JHoliday, AgedRondo & Miritic beside him in terms of above average players. Since Rondo is on the Lakers you can see directly whatever team the 4 Lakers are on can't make the playoffs, whereas whatever team AD is on can (they are .500 or better with him, 3-10 or so without).
In this case it is a lot like fantasy, you cannot trade a super-duper-star for even 4 really good guys. You need the star. Also the draft picks the Lakers have are only their own, so obviously once you trade AD to that team the 1st rounders all become #20+ which isn't that valuable.
If I'm the Pels I try to trade AD for Zion. Otherwise the only other guys in the league worth AD are Harden, Giannis, Durant, Curry, Embid, Kawhi and maybe Paul George. I suppose there are some great combos like Doncic & Porzingis or Jokic & Murray that would be worth considering, but those aren't walking thru the Bayou.
Now that the trade deadline is over AD's camp has to reconsider strategy. This is either shaping up to go one of four ways:
1. Carmelo to Knicks way - whatever team acquires him gives up too much and he's right back where he started team-wise, but hopefully in a much better market.
2. Dwight Howard - AD ruins his name and rep by being a p-rick about what teams he'll sign with and be traded too and by the time it happens no one cares and the time spent sulking distracts from his craft in a way that never gets fixed
3. Chris Paul- Orchestrate a trade to where AD wants to go and with some key pieces, but its still never quite enough on total roster and future assets to build into something better than the day OF the trade.
4. Durant: What AD really should do is just stfu and play out the string in NO and go to free agency. Then he can go to a super team or city of his own liking if that's what he really wants, deal with being hated, become bitter, but still earn a lot of money & hopefully win if he chooses wisely. It is frankly stupid to demand to be traded only to certain places cuz it screws over both your current and future teams.