NBA Trade Deadline 2019: 5 Lakers trades to make LeBron happy

BROOKLYN, NY - DECEMBER 18: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on December 18, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets defeated the Lakers 115-110. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 21: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans fight for position during a game on December 21, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Trade for Anthony Davis

The white whale for the Los Angeles Lakers is and will continue to be Anthony Davis. If they don’t deal for him at the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline, the noise about the current New Orleans Pelicans superstar coming to LA is not going to stop. Whether it’s the fact that he’s a star that could be dealt, that he signed with Klutch Sports or just rampant NBA trade speculation, this is one that’s not going away until it happens.

The 25-year old Davis (turns 26 in March) already established himself as a star prior to this season but has taken it up yet another notch through the first half of the year with the Pelicans. On the year, Davis is putting up 29.4 points, 13.3 points, 4.4 assists, 2.6 blocks and 1.8 steals in 37 minutes per game while shooting 51.1 percent from the floor.

Of course, to get Davis, the Lakers will have to send New Orleans a king’s ransom. Not only are they looking to get a superstar in this trade, but the Pelicans aren’t in a place of no leverage at this point. Thus, it’s not far-fetched to see New Orleans wanting two of the Lakers’ young pieces (Ball and Ingram) in addition to a pair of first-round picks. As such, Caldwell-Pope is also thrown in to make the money work.

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Anthony Davis to the Lakers is the trade that everyone will be keeping an eye on all the way up to the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline. At this point, it may not be likely to happen at the deadline and more likely to occur during the 2019 offseason. Even still, it’s the biggest action that could happen in the league as a whole and the trade that would clearly make LeBron James the happiest.

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