[albionmoonlight]

I will say that I am impressed by the Pelicans strategy here. The Lakers need a pre-deadline deal much more than the Pels do. If the Pels don't make a deal, then they still get to deal him in the offseason after a bidding war. If the Lakers don't make a deal, then they might lose out on him.

And it sounds like the Pels understand that they have that leverage and are forcing LA to keep coming to the table with bigger and bigger Godfather offers.

It is still one of the worst-run franchises in sports, so I can see it all still going sideways. But good on them for now.

(Of course, if they had shown this level of competence when building around AD, then he wouldn't be demanding to leave now, but that's all water under the bridge, I suppose.)