The Los Angeles Lakers are said to be the front-runners in the race for New Orleans Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis this offseason. The Pelicans are hoping to get an All-Star-caliber in return in a Davis trade, and according to Fletcher Mackel of WDSU, the Pelicans are interested in bringing Beal into the equation as part of a three-team transaction with the Lakers and Wizards:
NBA source tells me the “All-Star player” being referenced when talking about Anthony Davis/Lakers scenarios and using the #4 pick to get NOLA a veteran is Bradley Beal.
Pelicans want him in 3-team deal with LA.@FearTheBrown was first to report Beal as Pels target.@wdsu pic.twitter.com/mFZRQPsrXe— Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) June 13, 2019
Beal, now 25 years of age, signed a five-year, $127 million contract with the Wizards in 2016. He's not up for unrestricted free agency until 2021 and is slated to earn just over $27 million for the 2019-20 season.
On Wednesday, Marc Stein of The New York Times noted that the Lakers have made Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and the No. 4 pick in the June 20 draft available in trade discussions with the Pelicans. Stein also hinted that there could be a three-team deal in the works:
The Lakers have made Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and the No. 4 pick in the June 20 draft available in trade talks with the Pelicans, league sources say. New Orleans has made it known it hope to assemble a three-teams-or-more deal before surrendering Anthony Davis
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 12, 2019
Beal, a two-time All-Star and former No. 3 overall pick, would be a fine addition to any roster. He played in all 82 regular-season games with the Wizards last season, racking up averages of 25.6 points on 47.5 percent shooting from the field (35.1 percent from beyond the arc), 5.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals in a career-high 36.9 minutes per outing.
Whether or not the Lakers will be able to land Davis this offseason remains to be seen. Other teams are interested in his services, including the Boston Celtics, who may be willing to offer the Pelicans Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown.