The Anthony Davis trade rumors seemingly have set the NBA ablaze.
Rumors have been swirling about the superstar since early in the season, but Davis poured gasoline on the fire when he publicly requested a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans before the NBA Trade Deadline.
There reportedly are four teams that could be offering the Pelicans an offer for the 25-year-old.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been the favorite in the sweepstakes to land Davis, but the New York Knicks are another team the Pelicans star would be “open” to joining, according to Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher.
“Yes, the Lakers and their quest to pair another star with James has garnered most of the attention, especially considering that Davis and his agent, Rich Paul, are reportedly expected to make it known L.A. is their preferred destination (per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski), but let’s start with the Knicks,” Bucher writes. “Perhaps considered an underdog in this race for Davis, New York suddenly finds itself a potential power broker for the first time in a looonnnggg time. Few fanbases are more delusional than those of the Lakers or Knicks when it comes to believing every star on the planet wants to play for their teams, but at least the Lakers have several recent examples of big-time players electing to play in purple and gold, most notably James.
“The Knicks, on the other hand, haven’t been a preferred destination for years—but there are indications of that potentially changing,” he added. “League sources believe they have “a strong chance” of luring Durant should he leave the Golden State Warriors this summer and that Davis is “open” to New York as a landing place as well.”
The Knicks also have been rumored to be interested in free-agent-to-be Durant.
A deal for Davis likely would mean New York would have to part ways with star forward Kristaps Porzingis. But if the Knicks were able to land Durant, Davis, and a potential top-3 draft pick like Zion Williamson, they would be an instant favorite in the East.
