Five years after Anthony Davis was traded from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Los Angeles Lakers, the final details of the trade have been settled following the Dejounte Murray trade. Davis, now an NBA champion, and the Pelicans, who continue to build their roster, have officially closed this chapter.
The Lakers initially parted with Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram, and three first-round draft picks to acquire Davis. Over five seasons, the specifics of the trade evolved, with the recent acquisition of Dejounte Murray by the Pelicans marking the final adjustment.
The finalization came when New Orleans deferred the rights to the Lakers’ 2024 draft pick, allowing Los Angeles to select reigning SEC Player of the Year Dalton Knecht at No. 17 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. This cleared the path for the Pelicans to send their 2025 selection to the Atlanta Hawks as part of the Murray deal.
Full trade on ESPN: Dejounte Murray for Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels, 2025 first-round pick (via Lakers), 2027 first-round pick (least favorable of Bucks-Pels) https://t.co/4BLEuDodqT
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 28, 2024
Transformation of the Pelicans’ Roster
The trade enabled the Pelicans to make significant roster moves. New Orleans traded Ball to the Chicago Bulls and Hart to the Portland Trail Blazers, ultimately landing them key players like Murray and CJ McCollum. The Pelicans’ roster has transformed considerably since the original Davis trade, evolving into a potential contender.
Final Details of the Trade
With Murray’s acquisition, the Pelicans have officially completed the terms of the Davis trade. The original trade allowed New Orleans to add players such as Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Jaxson Hayes, Herbert Jones, and Didi Louzada. The final configuration, pending any future trades, includes a core unit of Ingram, Jones, McCollum, Trey Murphy III, Murray, and Zion Williamson.
Mutual Success
The Lakers have also seen success, winning a championship and reaching another Conference Finals since acquiring Davis. Both teams appear to have achieved their goals from the trade: Los Angeles secured their 17th championship banner, while the Pelicans built a competitive team around Williamson.
The finalization of this trade marks a rare instance of a mutually beneficial deal, with both the Lakers and the Pelicans reaping significant rewards from their respective moves.