While the general expectation was the Los Angeles Lakers would pursue or find a second All-Star during free agency, that changed with Anthony Davis informing the New Orleans Pelicans he would not sign a contract extension this summer and sought a trade before Thursday’s deadline.
Davis was long presumed to be an eventual target for the Lakers, which was speculation that ramped up last year when he signed on with Rich Paul and Klutch Sports, thus sharing an agent with LeBron James. The 16-year veteran then went on record to openly embrace potentially playing with Davis.
With the clock ticking before the deadline, the Lakers have aggressively pursued a trade for Davis.