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It makes sense to assume the Los Angeles Lakers would do all they can to pair LeBron James with the New Orleans Pelicans' Anthony Davis as soon as possible, but apparently, that has yet to prove the case.
Father Time is coming for James. Basketball's bionic man just returned from a five-week absence, the longest of his career, to rehab a groin strain he suffered on Christmas Day. James is still one of the most well-conditioned athletes in sports, but at 34, the minor injuries and nagging aches and pains he used to shrug off are becoming more and more of a problem.
The Athletic's Shams Charania reports that the New Orleans Pelicans considered Los Angeles' first offer for Davis a “lowball.”
Sources: The Lakers have yet to place all of their assets on the table as the Pelicans listen on offers for Anthony Davis. "Lowball," one source said. Davis hasn't been cleared from his fractured left finger, but is close to a return to action.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2019
Charania goes on to report the Lakers offered the Pelicans their pick of two players among Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart, and Ivica Zubac, in addition to Rajon Rondo or Lance Stephenson as “core parts of the deal” – a package New Orleans deemed “not remotely serious.”
It's head-scratching that Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka would cling to the hope of keeping one of their talented young players rather than give them all up in a trade to team James with basketball's best big man. Many believe the Lakers could be outbid by other interested suitors even if they did tender their version of a Godfather-type offer to New Orleans.
This all could be moot in the long run, at least in terms of Davis ultimately playing in purple and gold. He reportedly plans to sign in Los Angeles when he hits free agency in 2020 regardless of what transpires between now and then. But with James finally showing real signs of aging, the Lakers should be exercising the type of haste and urgency they haven't thus far.
