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The NBA, the old adage goes, is a copycat league. As a result of the Toronto Raptors' success after acquiring Kawhi Leonard, then, don't be surprised if a certain subset of teams feel more comfortable engaging in the Anthony Davis trade sweepstakes.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Monday that teams not on Davis' preferred list of destinations, including those playing in a small-market, have been “emboldened” to enter the trade fray as Leonard, a free agent this summer, and the Raptors sit on the precipice of a championship.
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Davis requested a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans in February. Even before the trade deadline came and went with the six-time All-Star remaining in New Orleans, conventional wisdom was that the teams of seriously interested in acquiring him would be limited to those he expressed a desire to play with long-term. Davis, remember, is a free agent next summer.
The Raptors traded for Leonard last August without any assurance he would re-sign with them in July. In fact, all reporting at the time suggested it was extremely unlikely the Southern California native would ever change his mind about preferring to play for one of his hometown teams, the LA Clippers or Los Angeles Lakers. Nine months later, Leonard has Toronto one win from its first title in franchise history and is in the process of buying property north of the border.
ESPN also reported on Monday that the Pelicans have informed interested teams of the trade package they're seeking in any Davis deal, one consisting of an All-Star, an elite young player, and multiple first-round picks.
