There aren’t many people who can truly claim to know how Anthony Davis is feeling right now, but Kevin Garnett is one of them.

Davis in is the rare position of being a dominant NBA superstar whose career fate could be decided by a trade while still in his prime. His choices, after a wacky week in which the New Orleans Pelicans star appeared to be publicly courted by LeBron James, seem to be whether to stay put and collect a monumental contract or try to force a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers and compete for a title.

For Garnett, who was arguably the last player of such standing and influence to have been traded at his peak, the answer is simple. Go west, young man.

"I told Anthony Davis this to his face," Garnett told USA TODAY Sports in a telephone conversation this week. " 'You are not playing against the guys you are squaring up against every night. You are playing against history, man.'

"Anthony Davis playing in New Orleans, I don’t want to say they are wasted days, but they are non-days. He needs to be somewhere where he can be with another guy and they can have a run at a championship. He has been in New Orleans long enough. It is time for a change now. This is it. No better time to do this."

It has been suggested, by Kevin Durant and others, that some potential targets may be loath to come to Los Angeles on account of an unwillingness to play second fiddle to James. Garnett insisted that should hold no fear for Davis, claiming the athletic center’s talents are enough that he would stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the spotlight with the three-time NBA champion.

While the Pelicans are clearly fearful — with good reason — of losing their best player, head coach Alvin Gentry said last week that Davis would not be traded "under any circumstances." However, Davis holds all the cards in the situation. If he decides he wants to be in a Lakers uniform, the Pelicans' hands are tied and would need to trade him or risk losing him for nothing as a free agent.

"When Anthony Davis suits up for the Pelicans, that’s the best the Pelicans are going to be right there," Garnett said. "They are capped out. They are playing at the top of the level they can play at. Davis with LeBron James — he goes to another level and that’s scary.

"That’s why he needs to go to a team where he has a chance to hoist the trophy or at least have a chance at going in that direction. He doesn’t have that. Great players need to be with other great players. He is still 'the guy' when LeBron is there. They are both 'the guy.' That’s why you bring your superpowers together."

The timing of recent developments have enhanced the sense that a Davis switch to the Lakers is inevitable. James told ESPN it would be "amazing" to play with Davis just days before the Pelicans played the Lakers at Staples Center. In the wake of that game, Davis said that money would not play a critical role in his career choices, implying that the Pelicans’ ability to offer a super-max contract would not give them an advantage.

Combine that with the fact Davis signed with the Klutch agency that also represents James before the start of the season, and it is little wonder that the rumor mill is in overdrive.

"I definitely get the sense (it is in the works)," Garnett laughed. "This is the craziest (expletive) I have ever seen. Rich Paul, LeBron’s best (expletive) friend is representing him? Come on, man."

Garnett was at the peak of his powers when he was traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Boston Celtics in 2007, teaming up with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to win a championship and create the NBA’s first modern super-team.

He currently hosts Area 21, a special weekly interview segment for Inside the NBA on TNT, profiling leading players. On Thursday, Garnett’s interview with controversial star Jimmy Butler explores Butler’s acrimonious move from Minnesota to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Garnett likes the Sixers’ chances of winning the Eastern Conference, but is as aware as anyone that the league’s balance of power runs through the West. If Davis and James unite forces, the shape of the league shifts once more. And, according to Garnett, the dominance of the Golden State Warriors would come under immediate threat.

"Absolutely they can challenge Golden State," Garnett said. "You can’t leave Davis open. He is not just a one-way player — he can cover the basket, he can guard you, he can stay with you, he is long enough to make you take tough shots, he can block shots, he is going to dictate the game in so many ways it is going to be ridiculous.

"Then LeBron will be doing everything he does. How do you stop it? Everything is there for Anthony Davis. If he goes to L.A., he can have a six- or seven-year run that would be amazing. This is his time. It has to happen."

Follow Martin Rogers on Twitter @RogersJourno.