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Lakers drop out of Anthony Davis sweepstakes after ‘outrageous’ request

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© Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports


After days of negotiating with the Pelicans about acquiring superstar Anthony Davis, the Lakers have reportedly pulled out of trade discussions, according to the Los Angeles Times.

And for now, the Western Conference landscape will remain the same.

The Lakers had extended the Pelicans multiple massive offers. The most recent included six current Lakers players, two first-round draft picks, and cap relief. According to the above report, the Lakers had offered to send Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Ivica Zubac to the Pelicans. The Lakers had also included Rajon Rondo and Lance Stephenson in a previous trade, according to a previous report.

The Pelicans haven’t budged. They reportedly want six-to-eight draft picks for Davis.

You read that right.

“They wanted more and more and more,” said one person, according to the report. “There was no more to give. They had cap-relief with Hill being in the deal. But the more they wanted the more it because outrageous and unrealistic.”

From the report: “One person said the Pelicans are hopeful that if Davis isn’t traded by the NBA’s Thursday noon (Pacific Time) deadline, that he’ll want to stay and play for the Pelicans going forward.”

One week ago, Davis requested to be traded from the Pelicans. He has not played in any of the team’s past eight games, as he has nursed a left index finger injury. But the team chose to sit him Monday night, despite Davis “eagerly wanting to suit up,” according to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes.

The Lakers are one of four Davis reportedly informed the Pelicans he would like to be traded to.

With the Lakers off the table, the only remaining Western Conference team, of the above listed, are the Clippers, who are currently No. 8 in the standings. Throughout the past two years, they have overhauled their roster, parting ways with long-time cornerstones Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan, filling the roster with young talent. It’s unknown whether they have entered the Davis sweepstakes.

But with the Pelicans’ exorbitant asking price, Davis may not be going anywhere.