The Los Angeles Lakers are currently in the hunt for a playoff spot, despite a rocky start to the season. With the acquisition of new players and the impressive performance of superstar Anthony Davis, the Lakers are in a good position to make it to the postseason. However, some are suggesting that the team should trade Davis at the end of the season.
FS1 analyst Colin Cowherd has been leading the charge, repeatedly mentioning that the Lakers should trade the All-Star big man in the summer. Cowherd sparked these talks once again after Davis' dominant performance in the Lakers' win against the Memphis Grizzlies. Although Davis' Hall of Fame talent has never been a question mark, his ability to stay on the court for most of the season has been a cause for concern. In his four seasons as a Laker, Davis has only played in 61% of the games, which is way too low for someone getting big-time money.
Despite the red flag of Davis' health, the writer of the article would take their chances with Davis and LeBron James in a Laker uniform. As a star-driven town, LA must squeeze every single ounce of talent that is left of Davis if the team provides its dynamic duo with real players around them. Examples of this are evident in the year they won the championship in 2020 and this season with the moves they've made in the trade deadline.
Since coming to the Lakers in the summer of 2019, Anthony Davis has been a polarizing figure among the team's fan base. Many Lakers fans love and appreciate him, but there are also many who have been very frustrated with him. The latter group criticizes the big man for being injury-prone and what they see as laziness and softness. As a result, they have been begging the team to trade him since at least last season.
If this season were to end in failure and management decided to blow things up, one Western Conference executive said Davis would be happy to be sent to the Milwaukee Bucks or Chicago Bulls. Davis is originally from Chicago, and the Bulls have a decent amount of young talent they could surround him with. However, if Davis were to be traded, James would likely want out as well, according to the same executive.
"If Davis can go to Chicago or Milwaukee or somewhere like that, where he would be happy, then LeBron could look to go elsewhere, too," the executive said.
If the superstar big man leaves, one would have to think James' time in LA would be over, especially considering how he seemingly influenced Davis to force his way to the Lakers in the first place. "He has an obligation to Anthony Davis, and the only way he gets dealt is if Davis gets dealt, too," the source said. "They do not necessarily have to go to the same place, but LeBron is largely responsible for AD being in Los Angeles and is not going to abandon him there."
According to The Athletic's Jovan Buha, the Lakers' plan is to run it back and give their current roster a shot at being together for a full training camp and regular season. Therefore, the anti-Davis faction of their fanbase may have to deal with its least-favorite player being around for at least one more year.
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