Pelicans Owner Says She'll Trade Anthony Davis to Lakers 'Over My Dead Body'

2019 NBA All-Star Game
2019 NBA All-Star Game / Streeter Lecka

There's a cold war brewing between the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans.

Pelicans owner Gayle Benson has reportedly said that she would never trade superstar Anthony Davis to the Lakers.

"Over my dead body," is a drastic, emphatic way to get your point across.

The Pelicans were completely opposed to trading Davis to the Lakers, but that was before New Orleans hired David Griffin to run the front office. Former general manager Dell Demps had a strained relationship with Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka after Davis' agent Rich Paul attempted to force a trade to the Lakers.

Now Benson has made it abundantly clear to Griffin that she is not willing to give in even with a new GM at the helm.

Is it a mistake for the Pelicans to not trade with the Lakers? If the Lakers were to send some combination of Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and the No. 4 pick in the draft, then New Orleans should absolutely consider it, and would be petty not to counter at the very least.

It's understandable as to why Benson doesn't want to make a deal with the Lakers, especially with how the situation was handled. However, she should remain open to all trade offers, even the ones the Lakers propose.