The Anthony Davis trade to the Lakers is good for the Toronto Raptors

The Pelicans and Lakers just pulled off a blockbuster trade for Anthony Davis. A deal which will help out the Toronto Raptors.

The Toronto Raptors had not even marched in their NBA Championship parade when the news broke that Anthony Davis has been moved from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Los Angeles Lakers. The move is an attempt to replicate the Raptors success, bringing in a star and hoisting the Larry O’Brien Championship trophy at season’s end.

It was expected that Davis’ days in New Orleans were numbered as the Lakers were pushing hard to bring him to Hollywood last season. They finally got their man and it not only benefits the two teams involved in the trade but the Raptors as well.

Increased chance of keeping Kawhi

Throughout the entire season, there was speculation that Kawhi Leonard‘s time in Toronto would only last a year. He has been rumoured to be interested in various other teams. Two near the top of most lists were both based in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Clippers were the frontrunners at the end of May, with the odds of +120. The Lakers at the time were third at +300 behind the Raptors’ +125.  Now that the Raptors have an NBA title, they are the favourite to have Leonard sign, and the Lakers latest move has all but evaporated any hope to signing the Klaw.

The timing of the Davis trade plays an important role in the Lakers ability to sign key free agents. The trade has been reported as follows:

The transaction has not yet been made official. The soonest that it can be processed is July 6, once free agency begins. Should that be the case, it would deplete the Lakers salary cap space and leave them unable to sign another maximum contract player.

There is the possibility that the exchange is processed later in free-agency if both teams wait until 30 days after the fourth overall pick has signed. This provides the Lakers more flexibility with their cap and would allow them to sign a player to a maximum deal.

However, the Pelicans seems adamant on completing the deal as early as possible, so they can look to move the fourth pick as well. If the Pelicans are intent on completing the deal July 6th, the Lakers simply don’t have the cap to pursue Kawhi.  The Raptors can breathe a small sigh of relief.

The Celtics didn’t get their man

Just like they were in the mix the last offseason trying to acquire Kawhi Leonard, the Boston Celtics put their best offer forward to try and score the Brow. Once again, it was the Celtics unwillingness to trade Jayson Tatum that proved to be their undoing.

It was reported that the San Antonio Spurs were looking to swap players with the Celtics last year, which would have sent Leonard to Beantown. Danny Ainge wasn’t willing to part ways with his young ballers, Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown, effectively ending negotiations with the Spurs.

At the time, it was believed that the Celtics were hanging onto their assets in order to push all-in a year later to get Davis. When Ainge wouldn’t include Tatum in trade talks, it solidified the Lakers having the winning bid.

The Raptors should be relieved to keep Davis out of Boston. Even if Irving leaves the team, they would still be incredibly dangerous if they featured Davis in their frontcourt. A move of that magnitude would shift the balance of the Eastern Conference.

Luckily for the Raptors, Davis will remain in the west. Though he will team up with their nemesis, LeBron James, the Raptors will not face the duo in the postseason unless both teams make it to NBA Finals.