The New Orleans Pelicans have yet to engage the Los Angeles Lakers in trade talks after the latter told the former they would not bid against themselves in a quest for Anthony Davis, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The clock keeps ticking and it's nearly 24 hours away, with no imminent agreement between the two teams.
The Lakers' posturing was a strategy to get the Pelicans to entice conversations and send a counteroffer, given that the two packages previously proposed were met with vague requests, the latest of which asked for four first-round picks and second rounders to accompany it.
Los Angeles has already been willing to strip its roster bare for the exception of LeBron James in a desperate attempt to acquire Davis, but even a six-player offer including two first-rounders has failed to be enough for the Pelicans, who don't see All-NBA potential in any of the players included in the package.
New Orleans is following the same blueprint that San Antonio Spurs general manager R.C. Buford used against the Lakers last season when the franchise expressed interest for Kawhi Leonard, mainly giving the team the cold shoulder and waiting until the offseason for a clearer path to a deal.
The Boston Celtics have promised the Pelicans some of their best assets if they're willing to wait until the summer, when they will be eligible to pair Davis with Kyrie Irving. Davis has no interest of being anything more than a rental in Boston, but New Orleans will do him no favors, looking out for their own future gains instead.
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