Five years have passed since Anthony Davis was traded from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Los Angeles Lakers, and today we see the final details coming to light. With Davis now an NBA champion, both teams have moved forward in their own directions. However, one of the largest trades of the 2024 offseason brought these final pieces into focus.
The Trade Details Come Full Circle
The Lakers initially parted with Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram, and three first-round picks for Davis. Significant changes over five seasons culminated with the Pelicans acquiring Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the deal involved Murray in exchange for Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels, and the Lakers’ 2025 pick along with a 2027 first-round pick (least favorable between Bucks and Pelicans).
Zion Williamson’s Ongoing Journey
This trade also impacts New Orleans significantly. Despite his potential, Zion Williamson has yet to feature in an NBA Playoff game due to recurring injuries. As Adrian Wojnarowski reported recently: Pelicans F Zion Williamson’s (left hamstring) is out for Friday’s Play-In Tournament elimination game vs. Sacramento and will be evaluated again in coming weeks.
This setback highlights lingering concerns over his durability throughout his career.
The Final Structure of the Trade
The trade saga finally finds closure as New Orleans deferred their rights to LA’s 2024 pick, allowing Los Angeles to select reigning SEC Player of the Year Dalton Knecht at No. 17 overall.
This move caps a period where the Pelicans dealt Ball to Chicago Bulls and Hart to Portland Trail Blazers, acquiring notable players like CJ McCollum and pivotal assets that led them to this point.
The Impact on Lakers and Pelicans
The parade of trades left both franchises transformed. While LA rode the wave of Davis’ arrival to their 17th championship banner, New Orleans capitalized on asset management, building around key figures such as Ingram, Jones, McCollum, Trey Murphy III, Murray, and Williamson.
The result is a rare instance of mutual satisfaction from an otherwise seismic trade shake-up in NBA history.
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