With the news of Anthony Davis requesting a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans, we have a look at the possibility of the Toronto Raptors trading for him.
It’s that time of year again, one where franchises are faced with the tough decision of either trading their superstar for chump change or getting nothing once they walk away at the end of their contract. This year, like the last, brings something extra special, a breed of superstar who rarely sees the end of a contract. Can the Toronto Raptors take advantage of another disgruntled superstar wanting out of his current situation?
Rich Paul to ESPN on a preferred destination for Anthony Davis: "Anthony wants to be traded to a team that allows him the chance to win consistently and compete for a championship."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 28, 2019
*the sound of the other shoe dropping*
And thus begins the Anthony Davis sweepstakes! Teams priming for a big playoff push are taking a long hard look at Davis, even with all the great comes a little bad. The danger of possibly losing Davis come next year is real and will play a large factor in the teams’ final decisions.
The obvious suitor would have been the Boston Celtics who have been in open pursuit of AD since before draft day, but, thanks to a ruling involving the Kyrie Irving signing the Celtics won’t have a chance at AD till next year. Leaving space for other suitors such as the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Pelicans are also having quite a disappointing season so far, earning themselves 13th in the West with a 22-28 record. This is following their first-round sweep of the Portland Trailblazers during the playoffs last year. So it’s clear that with or without AD things aren’t going great in the Bayou.
As great of a move as this could be for the Raptors you must remember that a trade of such magnitude would require plenty of assets and be one that would set the Raptors future back years in the chance that AD doesn’t re-sign.