Anthony Davis was expected to not only spend the entire 2024-25 campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers, but the remainder of his career with the 17-time NBA champions.
Davis, who landed with the Lakers in 2019 via a blockbuster trade, commanded the franchise’s frontcourt regularly and was taking baby steps toward becoming a legitimate stretch-big man in the big leagues (he shot 29.8% from three in 42 contests with Los Angeles in 2024-25 after connecting on 27.1% of his triples the previous season).
However, with the NBA champion forward’s biggest kryptonite being his health, the Lakers had no issue shipping him to the Dallas Mavericks nine months ago in a trade widely regarded as lopsided (the Lakers received Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris, the Mavericks received Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick, and the Utah Jazz received Jalen Hood-Schfino, and two 2025 second-round picks).
However, could the Lakers take advantage of the Mavericks’ current dysfunction (they fired Nico Harrison after a horrid 3-8 start to the season) and give Davis a do-over in Los Angeles while retaining Doncic? Silver Screen and Roll’s Bryan Toporek thinks so.
“Seeing as Davis is the main return that the Mavericks got for Doncic, they’ll likely have no interest in selling low on him,” Toporek wrote Thursday. “But if he can string together a stretch of healthy play and the Mavericks do begin shopping him, could the Lakers be legitimate bidders?”
“It’s a long shot, but never say never. Davis is earning $54.1 million this season. From a salary standpoint, the easiest framework would be Davis for LeBron James ($52.6 million) and Adou Thiero ($1.3 million).”
“The Lakers would be taking back roughly $225,000 more in salary than they’re sending out, so they’d still stay below the hard cap, and the deal would be legal on Dallas’ side as well.”
The Lakers would hit the jackpot by acquiring Davis this season. The Kentucky product is tremendous in the pick-and-roll and has the defensive tools/instincts to help mask his teammates’ on-ball miscues, making him a great fit alongside Doncic in Los Angeles.
Would Davis (currently out with a calf strain) manage to complete a season without any significant injuries/setbacks, though?
The answer is unclear, but his talent alone would likely compel the Lakers to reunite with the best big man they’ve had since Pau Gasol.
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