The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Anthony Davis in a blockbuster trade with the New Orleans Pelicans last month, and on Saturday, Davis was officially introduced as a member of the Lakers.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka called it “a history-shifting day” for the franchise, also calling Davis the “most dominant young basketball player in the world,” according to Lakers beat reporter Mike Trudell.
This is certainly a massive day for Los Angeles, as things had not exactly gone according to plan for the organization in recent years.
The Lakers have missed the playoffs six years in a row, and even after signing LeBron James last summer, things looked somewhat bleak for the Lake Show, as other free agents spurned them and the team went on to win just 37 games in James' first season.
However, during the middle of the 2018-19 campaign, Davis requested a trade from the Pelicans, opening the door for the Lakers to land a second star to put alongside of James.
Davis seemed intent on playing for Los Angeles, but the Lakers were rebuffed by the Pelicans in trade talks at the February deadline.
Then, New Orleans made a change at general manager, firing Dell Demps and replacing him with former Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin.
The Pels and Lakers then revisited trade talks last month, and Los Angeles ended up sending Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and draft picks to New Orleans in exchange for the superstar big man.
Davis, 26, has made six straight All-Star appearances.
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