Lakers Rob the Bank for A.D.

Friday night it was announced that the Lakers finally had their man and traded half their team for Anthony Davis. Analysts who have probably never played basketball in their life, were quick to pounce on the Lakers for giving up so much to acquire a guy who is one of the top ten players in the game. They gave up Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and the 4th pick in this year’s draft and future first round picks to obtain a guy who has proven he can be a superstar in the NBA. While this seems like a lot, let’s take a closer look at what they really gave up to become instant contenders for the 2019-2020 NBA title.

Lonzo Ball: The 2nd pick of his draft has shown he can pass, play some defense and has an awkward and slow jump shot that would make Jamaal Wilkes blush. In addition, he is always injured. If that is not bad enough, he comes with baggage by way of his loud mouth dad who literally bullies his son by speaking for him and plotting his every move on and off the court. Point guards are supposed to be the leaders of the team, not timid little boys who are afraid to stand up to a blow hard dad and tell him to shut up. This kid is mentally weak and physically frail in his first years in the NBA. Good luck with that changing. As soon as the trade was announced, Lonzo said nothing, but Daddy Big Mouth was giving interview after interview. Nice leader there. How long before Daddy is calling for the head coach of NoLa to be fired?

Brandon Ingram: The 2nd pick of his draft showed flashes as a rookie and since then has stepped back, has a frail build, blood clot issues and seems to be continuing the Duke tradition of NBA draft busts. He can be a serviceable player, but at the # 2 slot you are looking for an impact player not a role player. NoLa may want to think about this before taking Zion.

Josh Hart: The 30th pick of his first round is a nice young player who has proven he can be a competent backup in the NBA. Not spectacular but not as bad as Jabari Parker and Jahil Okafor of Duke who were both selected #2 in the NBA draft.

Draft Picks: The pundits are crediting the Pelicans for obtaining all these future draft picks. I guess every now and then a LeBron comes out or Anthony Davis or Karl Anthony Townes. But over all, there is just as good a chance you could draft Anthony Bennett or Andrew Wiggins. If you look up the number of draft busts in the top ten each year going back to 2010 you would be more inclined to just stick with free agency, and trade out of first round and build your bench in the second round. Bear in mind that new Pelicans GM David Griffin is the man who used the first round picks in the draft to take such notables since lucking into Kyrie Irving in 2011:
Colin Sexton, Tyus Jones, Sir Dominic Pointer, Joe Harris, Anthony Bennett, Sergey Karasev, Dion Waiters and Jared Cunningham…Yup, this guy knows how to pick them. Even in the year he drafter Kyrie first, he used the fourth pick to take Tristan “Kardashian” Thompson who had one good playoff run before Griffin gave him 75 million in guaranteed money.

I might be a lone voice out there, but I think the Lakers ripped of NoLa and the best move they made was not including Kyle Kuzma in the trade. He is young, tall, plays defense and can knock down a three pointer. He will emerge as the real winner next year as LeBron drives the lane and teams have to stay on AD and Kuzma will be standing all alone for wide open shots. Kudos to the Lakers for off loading a head case (Ball) damaged goods (Ingram) and some draft picks that will most likely amount to nothing for a top ten player.

-BSB