The Los Angeles Lakers are off to an abysmal start to the season. At 3-10, the Lakers look like a bottom-feeder in the NBA, therefore potentially the Lakers should explore trade options. Currently, Anthony Davis and Lebron James are the Lakers’ most significant assets. Here we’ve selected some possible trade partners for the Lakers that would send Anthony Davis elsewhere. These trades could take each team over the top while still getting the Lakers better. However, some trades will not get the Lakers into NBA title contention but they may be a fringe play-in team.
Phoenix Suns
Lakers receive: Jae Crowder, Deandre Ayton
Suns receive: Anthony Davis
The Lakers would get Jae Crowder and Dandre Ayton in return. For the Suns, this is a short-term move to get them over the hump for now. There are two years left on Davis’s contract and it probably won’t make sense to resign after that. Above all, with this move, the Suns could be favorites for the next two seasons to win the NBA title. Two years ago the Suns were in the finals but lost to Milwaukee. A season ago they were still a 60-win team. With the uncertainty that Deandre Ayton had to surround his contract extension, it would make sense to allow him a fresh start. With Ayton and Crowder, the Lakers get a younger big man and a proven three and D wing.
Memphis Grizzlies
Lakers receive: Dillion Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., a 2025 first-round pick (top-five protected), a 2024 first-round pick (via GSW), and a 2023 first-round pick.
Grizzlies receive: Anthony Davis
This trade package gets the Lakers the most draft capital in return and would set them up for their future post the Lebron James era. Adding Brooks and Jackson Jr improves them defensively as well. The Grizzlies would elevate by adding Davis and committing to giving Morant as much help as possible. Morant is a superstar in the making and an Anthony Davis trade would add to that prowess.
Chicago Bulls
Lakers receive: Nikola Vucevic, Alex Caruso, Coby White
Bulls receive: Anthony Davis
This trade package would get fan favorite Alex Caruso back in Los Angeles and can improve the team’s defense overall. Early on during the season the Lakers would defend well but have started to slip as of late. As well adding Vucevic would be a better and more natural fit next to Lebron James in Los Angeles. Chicago would get a better big man in Davis and help the team contend a little more. A pairing of Zach Levine, Demar Derozan, and Anthony Davis could potentially be very dangerous in the eastern conference.
Dallas Mavericks
Lakers receive: Dave Bertans, Reggie Bullock, Dwight Powell
Mavericks receive: Anthony Davis
The Los Angeles Lakers would get a lot of shooting back. With Dave Bertans and Reggie Bullock, they are shooting 36% from deep which is better than any other rotational player the Lakers have. As well the Lakers are getting a big man that is more durable in Dwight Powell. Powell started 71 of 82 games a season ago. In contrast, Anthony Davis hasn’t been durable since the bubble title win. In his first season with Los Angeles Davis played 62 out of 71 games. Although that was with an extended layoff period in 2020. In the following two seasons, Anthony Davis respectively played 40 and 36 games. Dwight Powell is an upgrade in that area. However, on the Dallas side of things, they would become the most dangerous pick-n-roll team with Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis.
Overview
This may spell the end of the Lebron and AD era. Since the arrival of Lebron James in 2018, the Lakers have only appeared in the playoffs one season. Which is the season they won the NBA title in the bubble. Since Anthony Davis arrived in 2019 it has been still only one playoff appearance. The Lakers need shooters and when you have Lebron James on the team that is the one area you cannot lack. Anthony Davis is one of the biggest assets on the team and could net the Lakers those coveted shooters. With these trades, Los Angeles can reset for the future and get better role players.
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