2019 NBA Draft: Full Mock Draft 4.0, Atlanta Hawks Trade Down to Pick at 8, 14 & 22, Lakers Trade #4

As the late Heath Ledger said in 2008’s The Dark Knight “And here. We. Go.” Speaking of Heath Ledger, despite the absolutely stunning dysfunction surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as the general dislike of Rob Pelinka, LeBron James is somehow able to convince Anthony Davis that the Lakers are where he needs to be to take that next step as one of the most dominant players in the NBA.

As such, the Lakers trade away much of their young core along with the #4 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft (and some salary filler from somewhere) in order to obtain Davis. In this case, that pick will be De’Andre Hunter, the best player on Virginia’s national championship-winning men’s basketball team.

Now ponder this: With a cadre of the Lakers’ young core (including Josh Hart and Brandon Ingram), the Pelicans have a potential day one starting five that looks something like this:

C – Zion Williamson
PF – De’Andre Hunter
SF – Brandon Ingram
SG – Josh Hart
PG – Jrue Holiday

Though a Jrue Holiday trade might be likely after AD is sent away, that is an absolutely brilliant defensive unit with multiple good shooters to surround Zion with. Just seeing the combination of Williamson and Hunter on the court together would make for a suffocating modern NBA frontcourt.

Though Pelicans owner Gayle Benson has said that she would greenlight a trade with the Lakers “over her dead body,” well, sometimes the sway of King James is too much to take.