Jamal Hart: Fill & Download for Free

If you follow the NBA and the Lakers moves closely over the last year or 2, you’ll notice that the Lakers have been making preparations to make a run at Anthony Davis since before they landed LeBron. This plan has been in motion for quite some time.That being said, the Lakers have the right combination of young, talented assets and short-term contracts to make an attractive deal with the Pelicans for Anthony Davis. The Lakers and the Celtics have the most attractive talent pool to put together an enticing package. If I’m the Pelicans, this is who I want from LA: Lonzo Ball + Brandon Ingram + Kyle Kuzma + Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (to make the numbers work) + 1st round pick. Now that seems like a lot, and it is, but there’s only 1 Anthony Davis. You have to give a lot to get a lot.The thing is, is that *really* too much? Not really, if you want to be a championship contender. If you’re the Lakers, you already have a replacement for Lonzo at PG (Rajon Rondo) ; Ingram at the 2 (Josh Hart/Lance Stephenson); and you’ll have a major upgrade for Kuzma at PF (Anthony Davis). Not only that, the Lakers will have enough money to land another max or near max player in free agency when Kawhi Leonard, Klay Thompson, DeMarcus Cousins - or dare I say maybe Kyrie Irving are all available to pair with LeBron and AD. Food for thought. That’s a championship caliber team and that’s the whole point of dealing for AD, so it’s not too much to give up when you look at it that way.If you’re the Pelicans, you’re already on the outside of the playoffs with AD - it’s time to move on sooner than later. By making the deal with LA you’ve got a nice young core to team with a rejuvenated Jahlil Okafor, Julius Randle and Jrue Holiday that can grow together. If you’re a small market team, you have to build through the draft, trades and smaller FA moves. It’s worked for Denver, Utah, San Antonio and others and that’s the model that N.O. should be following. That nucleus would likely be a playoff team next year and gives you something to build on for years to come. The best part about making the deal now is the city is still distracted by the Saints not making the Super Bowl, so the PR hit would be limited. The time is now, New Orleans. Make your move!

LeBron choosing the Lakers is more about his post-career business aspirations and family than basketball. However, I won’t totally discount the basketball perspective.From a business and post-career perspective, being in LA and playing for the Lakers is as good as it gets. He already has the exposure but being in LA puts him closer to the decision makers and allows him to learn more about the opportunities which exist. LeBron is smart enough to recognize that he’s essentially heading into the end of his career and he wants to position himself to be in a location where he’s not new and has close to $400 million net worth. If he’s in finance and investment, it’s New York. If he’s interested in the media, entertainment and investment, that’s LA.From a family perspective, imagine being the wife and children of a multimillionaire and the most popular athlete ever in a middle class, former industrial city of 400,000? For LeBron, he’s done his part. He won the city a title and helped to make them a respectable franchise, but now it’s time to move on.For his wife and kids, Los Angeles will bring a level of normality. They’ll no longer be looked upon by everyone and their daily activities followed. Of course, there’s the paparazzi of LA but at least it’s spread around to thousands of other people. In Cleveland, his wife and kids probably feel as if they can’t even breath and at times, just want to be left alone. In LA, they’ll be able to regularly interact with the wives and kids of former athletes, Hollywood stars and big people in various industries. That’s the kind of circle they’ve mingled in for years but now, it becomes permanent. They can build a life there and be far more comfortable than they ever were in Cleveland.As it relates to basketball, although Houston and Philly were better options to compete for a title, the Lakers aren’t necessarily light years behind. They have good young talent but more importantly, they’re a great free agent destination and while this summer was top heavy, the summer of 2019 which will include Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan, DeMarcus Cousins (potentially healthy) and a few other decent players. With LeBron in LA, that will certainly be an attractive option to some players.Additionally, the Lakers has decent young players such as Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart, which means, the Lakers will see who fits into their long term plans. Expect 1–2 of these guys to be packaged in a trade to bring in another established star but also, they’ll develop them alongside LeBron to path the way for the future.Overall, the Lakers simply makes sense, particularly for a player with larger ambitions than just playing basketball.

Manchester City:Joe Hart (GK)Fabian Delph (CM)Raheem Sterling (RW)Chelsea:Jamal Blackman (GK)Gary Cahill (CB)John Terry (CB)Ola Aina (RB)Nathan Chalobah (CM)Ruben Loftus-Cheek (CM)Isaiah Brown (LW)Patrick Bamford (CF)All 3 City players get regular playtime. From Chelsea, only Cahill and Terry does, rest of the players are youngsters, most of them will go out on loan.