Two Eastern Conference powers won't fall behind in the Anthony Davis sweepstakes, as the Toronto Raptors and the Milwaukee Bucks are expected to throw their hat in the ring and make a bid for the New Orleans Pelicans star, according to Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer.
The Bucks and Raptors are in a tight race for the top spot in the East, and a player of Davis' caliber can shift the swing of things dramatically.
Davis and his agent Rich Paul are expected to soon tell teams that his preferred destination is with the Los Angeles Lakers in a last-ditch attempt to depress the market and force the Pelicans to make a deal with the purple and gold. Yet that is unlikely to do much for a team like the Raptors, who previously gamble and won by upgrading their small forward slot with Kawhi Leonard during a summer trade with the San Antonio Spurs.
The Bucks have shown steady improvement under new coach Mike Budenholzer, but they're looking past their success and into their future, hoping to keep cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo at all costs.
Article Continues BelowThe Lakers have less than two weeks to pull off a deal for Davis, and the clock can't have enough hours at this point.
Paul has pried the door open for the Lakers by making the trade request public, giving them a leg up on the competition against the Boston Celtics for his services.
The New York Knicks will also pursue Davis, making this a four-horse race for The Brow and one that could soon add another ringer in the Celtics, who will be able to wheel and deal by July 1.