NBA Trade Window: 3 All-Stars the Pelicans should target to convince Anthony Davis to stay

When Anthony Davis declared himself for the 2012 NBA draft, he was one of the highest rated prospects in history. Unsurprisingly, Davis was selected by New Orleans with the number one pick, and the 25-year-old has been with the franchise ever since, guiding the team to two playoff appearances.

Davis is currently signed to a five-year, $145 million contract that he signed with the Pelicans back in 2015, although the 5-time All-Star can opt of his deal in 2020, and many analysts expect Davis to push for a trade to either the Boston Celtics or Los Angeles Lakers in the summer.

Nevertheless, for now at least, Davis remains loyal to the team that drafted him, and the Pelicans still have the opportunity to convince the superstar to remain with the team. With that said, the Pelicans need to show Davis that he can compete in New Orleans, and here we will look at three players that the Pelicans should target in order to convince Davis to stay.

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#3 Kemba Walker

Cleveland Cavaliers v Charlotte Hornets

There is no doubting that the New Orleans Pelicans are in need of a new starting point guard, as the team has struggled to replace Rajon Rondo, who left for the LA Lakers over the summer. When looking around the NBA, there are a number of quality point guards that are seemingly available such as Terry Rozier and Dennis Smith Jr., however, the acquisition of Kemba Walker could ensure the Pelicans reach the playoffs.

Walker himself will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and so far this season, the 28-year-old has averaged 25.2 points, 5.7 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game. The two-time All-Star would increase the pace of the Pelicans attack, and if the Hornet's entertain trade offers for their star man, the Pelicans should not hesitate to make a move

#2 Kevin Love

Cleveland Cavaliers v Minnesota Timberwolves

Kevin Love is currently signed to a four-year $120 million contract that he with the Cleveland Cavaliers over the summer. The Cavs decided to hand Love a huge contract after LeBron James had left for Los Angeles, and the team looked set to build their future around the 5-time All-Star.

Despite this, the Cavaliers have struggled immensely on the court, and the team has already allowed a number of their 2016 Championship winning roster move on. Love could soon be the next player, as his long term max deal no longer falls into the Cavs vision of building around youth, and as we get closer to the deadline, the Cavs may look to ship Love.

While the Pelicans will have to give up a lot to acquire Love, there is no doubting that the All-Star would significantly improve New Orleans playoff chances. The 30-year-old has historically performed best when playing as the second option on a team, and the potential duo of Davis and Love is an extremely exciting proposition.

#1 Bradley Beal

Toronto Raptors v Washington Wizards

Bradley Beal played college basketball in Florida with the Gators before being selected by the Wizards with the third overall pick in the 2012 draft. Beal was part of the same draft class as Anthony Davis, and just like AD, Beal has struggled to compete on an underwhelming roster. Nevertheless, Beal has established himself as an All-Star, and the 25-year-old continues to be the shining light on a struggling Wizards team.

Due to the current plight of the team, Beal is reportedly unhappy in Washington and has no long-term plans to stay with the franchise. Due to this, the guard is rumored to be available for the right price this month, and the Pelicans should do everything in their power to make a deal for a player that is entering his prime. Ultimately, Beal is a dream signing for the Pelicans, so it will be interesting to see what happens in the next few weeks.