Why the Lakers have limited options in a potential Davis trade … but one would seriously shake up the NBA

Amid the 2-8 Lakers’ grim begin to the season, Anthony Davis’ title has now come up in commerce rumours.

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons first revealed Davis could possibly be placed on the commerce desk as a “plan B” choice to Russell Westbrook, who the Lakers have been searching for a number of months.

However off-loading Westbrook and his expiring $47 million contract would doubtless contain the Lakers additionally surrendering two future first-round draft picks, with their first rounder this season already tied to New Orleans.

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Whereas a Davis commerce may in idea land the Lakers a group of property that places them in a greater place long-term … plus how a lot worse can it get for the interim?

It comes as Westbrook has discovered new life in a sixth-man function after after averaging 19.3 factors, 6.8 assists, and 5.3 rebounds in his first six video games as a reserve for the Lakers.

For Locked on Lakers’ Andy Kamenetzky although, a Westbrook commerce nonetheless makes extra sense.

But what choices would the Lakers have in the event that they certainly put David on the desk?

“Unless the Lakers are looking to do a very specific scenario – which is start the rebuild now in the middle of this season … you have to be thinking about something that gives you a return for Davis that keeps you competitive right now – it’s got to be a mutual win-now move,” Andy Kamenetzky stated on Locked on Lakers.

“That drastically narrows down your options. The Lakers by definition are not going to trade basically in the entire Western Conference, because you don’t want to trade Davis to a team you’re going to be chasing.

“Unless there’s somebody on the Rockets or Kings you’re dying to get, I don’t see any options, from a practical standpoint, given the hole they’ve dug.”

Davis is contracted till the 2024/25 season – when LeBron James’ deal additionally expires – for a complete of $120 million (round AUD$165m), which features a participant choice within the last marketing campaign.

Andy Kamenetzky additionally believes choices for Davis are restricted within the Eastern Conference barring a swap for Nets celebrity Kevin Durant, who’s on the unsettled franchise’s books till the 2025/26 season for a complete of over $190 million.

Although maybe a fantastic concept, the Nets have been marred by drama this season, most notably round Kyrie Irving, however Durant himself requested a commerce over the US summer season.

It’s conceivable the Nets at some stage choose to explode their roster, and if it will get to that, the Lakers would certainly be circling.

After all, that is the NBA we’re speaking about, and stranger issues have occurred.

“Kevin Durant is obviously a name that’s going to come up. He may end up wanting out and maybe Brooklyn doesn’t want to bottom out altogether,” Andy Kamenetzky stated.

“It’s a shorter commitment to Anthony Davis if nothing else … they (Brooklyn) can have their cake and eat it too. Try to build around Anthony Davis, but if they can’t, it’s not as long term of a commitment.

“Either way, you wash your hands of this toxic stew that’s been going on.”

Trading Davis for Durant is a transfer NBA analyst Skip Bayless was additionally on board with, saying he’d do in a “heartbeat” if he was the Lakers.

“I’m not sure it would fix it, but it would change life and it would shake it up with a Richter scale magnitude,” Bayless stated on Undisputed.

“It would be the talk of the world that Durant went to the Lakers and now Anthony Davis is a Net.

“I’m not sure (Nets owner) Joe Tsai would do that because he would think Anthony Davis is a downgrade to Kevin Durant.”

Other potential commerce companions Andy Kamenetzky named for Davis have been the Bulls and Celtics.

But he admitted buying and selling Davis to the Lakers’ bitter rivals Boston, who’re among the many championship favourites, to make them even stronger can be a daring name.

“I don’t know exactly what you do, but the idea that the Lakers are going to potentially trade Davis to the Celtics to possibly got them the ring that puts them further ahead in the chase … that’s a tough one to spin,” he stated.

“I’m sure you could find another team, but the point being, there’s not a lot that jumps out at you as an immediate mutual win-now move the Lakers can make trading Davis if they’re still looking to stay competitive.

“I think it’s Westbrook just because it’s easier to trade Russ for pieces that could help you now than it would be to trade Davis for pieces that would help you now.”

Despite dropping off from his earlier greatest heights, Davis has nonetheless averaged an elite 22.5 factors, 11.1 rebounds and a pair of.1 blocks per sport this season.

However the large man, who’s been hampered by accidents throughout his profession and has declined as a shooter, has copped appreciable criticism for the Lakers’ woes this season together with former NBA participant saying their struggles are “92 per cent” his fault.

And so Locked on Lakers’ Brian Kamentzky believes a Davis commerce would virtually undoubtedly sign the franchise is transferring into rebuild mode.

“I think if they trade Davis, it is entirely a we’re done, blow it up kind of thing,” he stated.

“It wouldn’t be for DeRozan. It would be for a larger expiring contract, as many expiring contracts as you could get and maybe one good young player you could find.

“I’m talking a Jared Vanderbilt type young player – not a star – not a Tyrese Haliburton like Indiana got.

“The problem here though is, you’re selling so low on AD (Davis) when you trade him right now. The belief in Anthony Davis around the league is extraordinarily low.

“I don’t think you’re going to get a Rudy Gobert type return or a Donovan Mitchell … because the national mood on Anthony Davis is down.”

Elsewhere, Fox Sports’ (US) Chris Broussard on First Things First threw up a Davis for Damian Lillard swap, suggesting it’d be a win-win for each the Lakers and Trail Blazers.

Meanwhile ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith steered LA reaches out to Golden State and enquires a couple of Draymond Green and Klay Thompson package deal.

“If I’m the Los Angeles Lakers, I might pick up the phone and call Bob Meyers and Joe Lacob and say: ‘(For) Anthony Davis, give me Klay Thompson and Draymond,” Smith stated.

“They’re (Golden State) not looking to pay everybody … I want activity and guys I know are going to play.

“A prolific shooter and an energiser bunny who holds people accountable. Yes, I’d think about that.”