NBA Schedule 2019-20: 5 games with the most revenge potential

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1. Los Angeles Lakers at New Orleans Pelicans (Nov. 27)

The NBA apparently decided the night before Thanksgiving would be Revenge-Game Night.

After Irving makes his eagerly anticipated return to Boston, Anthony Davis will be doing the same when the Los Angeles Lakers travel to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans.

Although Irving’s time in Boston ended with a thud, he didn’t force his way out via a ham-handed trade request that sent his team’s season spiraling into the toilet. The same can’t be said about Davis, who told the Pelicans one week before the trade deadline that he wouldn’t sign a contract extension with them and wanted to be traded, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

“Anthony wants to be traded to a team that allows him a chance to win consistently and compete for a championship,” Davis’ agent, Rich Paul, told Wojnarowski. “Anthony wanted to be honest and clear with his intentions and that’s the reason for informing them of this decision now. That’s in the best interests of both Anthony’s and the organization’s future.”

Davis’ attempt to leverage his way to the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the trade deadline fell flat, as it behooved the Pelicans to wait until the offseason to trade him. The Boston Celtics weren’t able to join the bidding until July 1 due to a quirk with the collective bargaining agreement, and seeing who won the draft lottery—and thus the rights to Duke wunderkind Zion Williamson—would help inform trade packages.

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The Pelicans ultimately wound up winning the lottery, and they dealt Davis to the Lakers in mid-June for a package including Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and multiple future first-round picks. The Lakers’ once-heralded prospects will get a fresh start outside of the spotlight of Los Angeles, where they can develop organically alongside Williamson and fellow rookies Jaxson Hayes and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, while Davis got his wish to play alongside LeBron James.

When Davis makes his return to New Orleans, he’s sure to be booed every second he’s on the floor. Ball, Ingram and Hart, meanwhile, will aim to show the Lakers what they missed out on by giving up on them so quickly to appease James.

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