The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t value Anthony Davis enough to keep him in the fold for more than 5.5 seasons.
Last February, the Lakers traded the injury-prone 10-time All-Star to the Dallas Mavericks for generational point guard Luka Doncic. Like Los Angeles, though, Dallas didn’t hesitate to eventually part ways with Davis when they identified the perfect trade.
After less than two full seasons, the Mavericks shipped the Kentucky product to the Washington Wizards in a deal that landed them three role players and draft capital.
Is there a world where Los Angeles and Washington could collaborate to execute a trade that would send Davis to the Lakers for a second stint? Hoops Hallow’s Ryan Lucas thinks so, but his trade concept would require the franchise to move on from a declining second-year guard (Dalton Knecht) and get a third team involved.
"Now this moves me (Wizards receive No. 2 overall pick, Lauri Markkanen, Jarred Vanderbilt, Knecht, and two future first-round picks, Utah Jazz receive No. 1 overall pick, the Lakers’ No. 25 overall pick, Trae Young and Jake LaRavia; and removed protections on Lakers’ 2027 first-round pick owed to Utah, and Lakers receive Davis Ace Bailey, two Jazz 2027 second-round picks, and two Wizards 2026 second-round picks)," Lucas wrote on X/Twitter Sunday.
"This trade can be done, but it requires (Deandre) Ayton opting out. (Marcus) Smart opts in. (Austin) Reaves resigns for $30 million a season LeBron (James) resigns for $18 million Rui (Hachimura) resigns for $11 million a season, and Luke (Kennard) resigns for $7 million a season."
While Lucas’ trade concept is fun to envision, it’s unrealistic for several reasons. For starters, it’s unlikely the Wizards, who won the NBA Draft lottery on Sunday afternoon, would be willing to trade down a pick and miss out on bringing BYU star AJ Dybantsa.
Additionally, as abysmal as Washington has been lately, they do have some notable talent they can use to help them compete at a high level moving forward (Davis and Young specifically).
Trading that talent away would be a foolish move that could soon backfire for the rebuilding Eastern Conference franchise. To make matters worse for Lucas, the Jazz no longer possess the Lakers’ 2027 first-round pick, as they sent the Memphis Grizzlies to help them complete a mid-season deal for Jaren Jackson Jr.
Ultimately, if the Lakers want to reunite with Davis this summer, they must find a less complicated way to do so.
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