Who would trade for Anthony Davis? While some TV Analysts like Stephen A. Smith claim that Davis doesn’t have significant trade value, one GM tells Sean Deveney of Heavy.com that there is no truth to that.
“Look, it is beauty in the eye of the beholder. But he is an elite talent and he is 29 years old,” the GM tells Deveney. “Everybody wants him, everybody thinks that if they get their hands on him, they can keep him healthy, etc., etc. …Now, can you get the kind of offer the Lakers gave up when they traded for him (in 2019)? No, of course not. But a team like Chicago, where he is from, they would bend over backwards to get him.”
The Bulls have been linked to Davis in the past and they won’t be alone if Davis actually becomes available in trade talks. The anonymous GM said there would be “29 teams ready with offers,” though it’s just a matter of whether they are worth the Lakers’ time. Dallas is another intriguing suitor for Davis, however.
“Dallas, putting him with (Luka Doncic)? Of course, they would. Phoenix, Miami, any team that really wants to take that next step. The injury is a risk, but the payoff you get if you can keep him on the floor is worth it,” the executive explained.
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- Deveney hears (same piece) that the Bulls could pursue Dennis Schroder this offseason, though that’s only if the club is able to find a trade partner for Coby White. Schroder, who is a free agent after being traded to Houston this past season, previously played under coach Billy Donovan. The Rockets remain a threat to re-sign the point guard, though if that happens, they could trade the former Laker at some point during the 2022-23 season.
- There have been a lot of positives for Doc Rivers in Philadelphia and despite rumors that the team may part ways with the coach, there’s little reason for the Sixers to do so this offseason, Joe Vardon of The Athletic contends. The progression of Tyrese Maxey and the success despite the Ben Simmons drama are among the successes during Rivers’ tenure. If the Sixers do let Rivers, who has three years and $24 million remaining on his contract, he may not be on the market for long. The Lakers are reportedly waiting out their coaching search to see how the situation unfolds.
- Every year, there is trade speculation about Kevin Love and yet, he remains on the Cavs’ roster. However, the veteran forward has one year remaining on his contract and this could be the offseason where Cleveland trades him. James Piercey of NBAAnalysis.net suggests the Heat as a suitor, pitching a trade centered around Duncan Robinson coming to the Cavs, which is interesting because Robinson has been a healthy-scratch for much of Miami’s series with the Sixers. P.J. Tucker and Hayward Highsmith also come to Cleveland for Love in the proposed deal.
- While it’s too early to write off Deni Avdija, ESPN draft expert Mike Schmitz admits that he had the Wizards wing too high on his scouting list during the 2020 scouting process. Schmitz had Avdija, who was selected with the No. 9 pick, as his No. 3 overall prospect behind LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards. Avdija is just 21 years old and his improvement as a defender is notable but without one solidified “NBA skill,” it’s no wonder that he’s struggled to find a consistent role in Washington. Perhaps Avdija is a trade candidate this summer.
- James Wiseman will play during the Summer League as long as he doesn’t experience any more setbacks, according to Kerith Burke of NBC Sports. The former No. 2 overall pick continues to recover from a right knee injury that forced him out of the season in late March. As of this writing, Wiseman still hasn’t made it back on the court for contact drills, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Wiseman had widely been considered a trade candidate since the Warriors drafted him in 2020.
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