Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans will visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday for the first encounter between the squads since the Lakers acquired LeBron James in free agency.
Speaking to ESPN, LeBron made it known that he’d be in favor of Davis joining the Lakers in the future.
“That would be amazing, like, duh. That would be incredible.”
Davis enters into free agency in 2020, causing speculation that he’ll be traded if the Pelicans have reason to believe he’ll leave the team once his contract expires. Despite the allure that comes with joining a team that features LeBron James, Davis has financial incentive to stay with the Pelicans, becoming eligible for a five-year, $239 million supermax extension in the summer of 2020. Any team that would acquire Davis in a trade would only be eligible to sign him to a five-year $205 million dollar contract, and if he was signed by a team other than the Pelicans in free agency he could only be signed to a four-year, $152 million contract.
Speculation regarding Davis eventually joining LeBron in Los Angeles has intensified since Davis signed with agent Rich Paul and Klutch Sports Group, the same agent and entity that represents LeBron.
Welcome to the Family @AntDavis23!!!!! #Klutch ???? https://t.co/secLjwl8oU
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 23, 2018
Anthony Davis is currently averaging 28 points, 12.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.8 blocks per game with the Pelicans this season, and previously played alongside LeBron as part of the 2018 NBA All-Star Game.
