Because the losses proceed to pile up, the Los Angeles Lakers are actually reportedly open to creating a blockbuster commerce. In accordance with Invoice Simmons, the Los Angeles Lakers are open to buying and selling celebrity energy ahead Anthony Davis. “There’s some buzz that Anthony Davis could also be accessible,” Simmons states on the 1:09:30 mark on his podcast.
Whereas the considered shifting Davis might come as a shock contemplating Russell Westbrook has been steadily talked about because the most likely player to get traded from the Lakers, shifting Davis is smart. The Lakers are 2-8, and whereas a number of different potential Western Convention playoff groups have additionally gotten off to sluggish begins, they’ve a deadly flaw, one that may’t be fastened with out making a giant commerce to deal with the difficulty.
The Los Angeles Lakers have a flawed roster and few choices to enhance.
The Lakers at the moment rank thirtieth in 3-point proportion and thirtieth in offensive score, and rumors have instructed that they might commerce Westbrook for gamers resembling Buddy Hield and Myles Turner, or Doug McDermott and Josh Richardson. Nevertheless, so as to purchase these gamers, they might doubtless have to surrender a minimum of one, if not each, of their remaining tradable future first-round picks.
It appears clear at this level that the Lakers are unwilling to do this, so buying and selling Davis is perhaps one other viable choice. Davis is beneath contract by means of the top of subsequent season earlier than having the ability to opt-out and hit unrestricted free company in 2024. Though Davis is thought for being injury-prone, he’s additionally having a robust season, averaging 23.2 factors and 10.3 rebounds per recreation. Because of this, he ought to nonetheless have loads of worth, and the Lakers may use extra future property in addition to flexibility.
If the Lakers do commerce Davis, it could possibly be seen as them punting on this season, however they aren’t precisely dominating in the meanwhile. Regardless of that, they might start to retool this season in preparation to make a run subsequent season by attempting to amass a few starters and a few draft picks for Davis.
Then, within the offseason, as soon as Westbrook is off the books, they’ll use their projected $68 million in cap space, plus what they’d save by dealing Davis, to construct a better-fitting roster round James. In fact, constructing a workforce round a 38-year-old with one 12 months remaining on his contract isn’t typically the playbook of a title-contending workforce.
That stated if the Lakers have doubts about constructing round Davis, shifting him earlier than the commerce deadline is the time to do it. James could also be in opposition to the choice, and it could assure that he leaves in 2024, but it surely could possibly be in the very best curiosity of the Los Angeles Lakers in the long term.
Finally, I don’t anticipate the Los Angeles Lakers to commerce Davis within the offseason. Nonetheless, their obvious willingness to maneuver him may imply {that a} commerce involving Davis might occur this summer season after they look to retool their workforce.
