Six years have handed because the New Orleans Pelicans traded Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers in a franchise-altering blockbuster.
The Lakers surrendered Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and three first-round picks to amass the famous person huge man.
Whereas this deal didn’t contain as many first-round picks as Desmond Bane commerce or different mega-trades like Mikal Bridges or Kevin Durant, it basically modified each franchises’ trajectories.
The Lakers discovered the proper complement to LeBron James, with Davis serving to ship the 2020 NBA championship.
For New Orleans, this marked the transition from the Davis period to the Zion Williamson period, constructed round their 2019 primary draft decide.
Although Davis was later traded to Dallas for Luka Doncic, the unique deal’s influence continues reverberating all through the league.
Not one of the three main gamers stay with the Pelicans in the present day, every taking dramatically completely different profession paths since leaving New Orleans.
Lonzo Ball spent two seasons in New Orleans, posting his career-high 14.6 factors per sport in the course of the 2020-21 marketing campaign.
The Pelicans traded him to Chicago in 2021 via a sign-and-trade deal, receiving Tomas Satoransky, Garrett Temple, and draft picks. Ball stays with the Bulls, although accidents have restricted his latest influence.
Brandon Ingram loved the longest tenure among the many trio, spending almost six years in New Orleans and incomes each an All-Star choice and the NBA Most Improved Participant award.
Nonetheless, the Pelicans traded him to Toronto in February this 12 months, receiving Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, a first-round decide, and a second-rounder in return.
Josh Hart lasted simply two and a half seasons in New Orleans earlier than becoming a member of the CJ McCollum commerce that despatched him to Portland.
Hart was subsequently dealt to the New York Knicks in 2023, the place he’s develop into an important piece of their latest success alongside Jalen Brunson and has emerged as one of many league’s most beneficial position gamers.
The 2019 first-round decide state of affairs proved sophisticated and in the end disappointing for New Orleans.
The Pelicans’ fourth general decide from the Lakers was traded to Atlanta for DeAndre Hunter, with New Orleans receiving the eighth, seventeenth, and thirty fifth alternatives in return.
Jaxson Hayes (eighth decide) spent 4 seasons in New Orleans earlier than paradoxically signing with the Lakers in 2023, reuniting with Davis and LeBron.
Hayes by no means developed into the rim-running risk the Pelicans envisioned, averaging simply 8.8 factors and 4.4 rebounds throughout his New Orleans tenure.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (seventeenth decide) had a good shorter keep, lasting simply two seasons earlier than being included within the Josh Hart commerce bundle to Portland, then instantly dealt to Utah.
He discovered stability with Minnesota in 2023, changing into a helpful position participant supporting Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves’ bodily fashion of play.
Didi Louzada (thirty fifth decide) by no means made a significant NBA influence, enjoying fewer than 10 video games per season earlier than returning to play professionally in Brazil.
The 2022 first-round decide yielded Dyson Daniels (eighth general), a promising prospect from the NBA G League Ignite program.
Nonetheless, his potential didn’t materialize in New Orleans, resulting in his commerce to Atlanta in 2024.
The irony stings for Pelicans followers: Daniels gained NBA Most Improved Participant and earned NBA All-Defensive First Staff honors in his first season with the Hawks.
His breakout efficiency highlighted New Orleans’ incapability to develop younger expertise successfully.
The Pelicans used their deferred 2024 Lakers decide (initially scheduled for 2025) to amass DeJounte Murray from Atlanta in the identical commerce that despatched Daniels away.
Murray averaged 17.5 factors, 6.5 rebounds, and seven.4 assists in his first New Orleans season, offering veteran management the franchise desperately wanted.
Six years later, the Anthony Davis commerce represents a transparent win for the Lakers and a missed alternative for New Orleans.
Whereas Los Angeles parlayed Davis into a direct championship, the Pelicans have struggled to maximise their substantial return.
The franchise obtained important belongings for Davis however didn’t construct a sustainable winner round Zion Williamson, who has handled fixed damage considerations.
