Conventional wisdom says Anthony Davis wants to team up with LeBron James on the Los Angeles Lakers.

Not only did the New Orleans Pelicans superstar formally request a trade earlier this week, but subsequent reporting has revealed that Davis could opt against signing an extension this summer with whatever team he's employed by – unless he's a member of the Lakers before the February 7 trade deadline, of course.

Otherwise, Davis may very well be a one-year rental for the team bold enough to trade for him between now and then, instead choosing to sign in Los Angeles as a free agent in the summer of 2020.

One more indication Davis' possibly-imminent move to the Lakers: His agent is Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, a longtime friend, confidante, and business partner of James.

Needless to say, the dots connecting Davis to the purple and gold while he's under contract with the Pelicans have rubbed many NBA followers the wrong way.

Among them is Charles Barkley, whose disapproval apparently stems in part from a conversion he shared with Paul last month.

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“Rich Paul got mad at me 'cause I said a month ago, ‘Oh, the fix is in. Anthony Davis is going to the Lakers,'” Barkley said on TNT's “Inside the NBA” Thursday night. “This was before all these rumors started… He didn't like me saying the fix was in. The fix has been in!”

Quick, someone alert Adam Silver!

There are anti-tampering rules that prevent the type of back-channel coordination Barkley alleges has transpired between Davis, James, and the Lakers.

In fact, Los Angeles was fined $50,000 last year for public comments Magic Johnson made about Giannis Antetokounmpo, and was docked $500,000 months earlier after general manager Rob Pelinka made contact with Paul George's agent.

The biggest difference here is the inclusion of Paul, who is entitled to look out for the best interest of all his clients – Davis and James included.

Wouldn't playing together be optimal for both?

Certainly, but Paul and everyone else involved should tread lightly, lest the league again punish Los Angeles for over-stepping its bounds with regard to player movement.