Many believe adding Davis could have made a team like the Knicks an instant contender NBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The Lakers acquiring Anthony Davis from the Pelicans is a "disaster for the Knicks and other teams that had pinned their hopes" to landing him, according to Kyle Wagner of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. With the '19 free agent class "crushed by injuries" to Warriors F Kevin Durant and G Klay Thompson, and with Hornets G Kemba Walker and Celtics G Kyrie Irving "reportedly leaning toward other destinations, trading for Davis had become an increasingly appealing option for the Knicks" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/16). In N.Y., Mike Vaccaro wrote under the header, "Knicks' Plan For Dream Team Now Just A Painful Memory" (N.Y. POST, 6/16). On Long Island, Steve Popper notes the Knicks were "interested in Davis but were unwilling to surrender the pieces to match what the Lakers gave up" (NEWSDAY, 6/16). Also in N.Y., Marc Berman cited a source as saying that the Knicks "'weren't close' to having a major package to entice" the Pelicans on a deal (N.Y. POST, 6/16). NEWSDAY's Popper wrote the the Knicks "certainly will be players in the free-agent market," but despite Owner James Dolan’s "assurances months ago that stars are coming, the entire market has taken an odd turn before free agency even begins." For a team like the Knicks that already has "endured years of losses," the notion of "emptying their salary-cap space and waiting is a hard pill to swallow" (NEWSDAY, 6/16).
NO LUCK FOR THE IRISH: In Boston, Adam Himmelsbach cited a source as saying that the Celtics "never felt like a deal for Davis was close as discussions unfolded this past week." The source said that the "uncertainty surrounding" Davis’ future had made the Celtics "reluctant to overwhelm the Pelicans with their best possible offer." Davis’ agent, Rich Paul, reiterated this past week that the Celtics "would not be a long-term home for his client if it traded for him." The "public nature in which these demands played out frustrated the Celtics and ultimately did play into how they approached negotiations." But in the end there was "nothing they could really do about it" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/16).
