Anthony Davis, LeBron James Combo 'Not Scary,' Ric Bucher Explains Why

The Los Angeles Lakers are desperate to strengthen the team this summer after yet another disappointing campaign that saw them miss out on a place in the playoffs for a franchise record sixth consecutive season. LeBron James has also offered to help his team make top quality additions and has already made a pitch.

The likes of Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson, among others, are entering the free agency market this summer and the Lakers could move for either of them as they have $38 million in max salary cap space. But the team has another player in mind that is said to be top of its wish list – Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans.

The power forward, rated amongst the best in the league at the moment, requested for a trade earlier this year. The Lakers were desperate and made multiple offers ahead of the Feb. 7 trade deadline but they were all rejected by the Pelicans.

Davis will again be up for grabs this summer and the Lakers will be expected to again go all-out to bring the player to Los Angeles and pair him with James. During the trade period, Magic Johnson, now the former president of basketball operations, offered five players along with multiple future draft picks for Davis but was unable to convince the Pelicans.

Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher, however, feels the “LeBron-Davis” partnership will not help the Lakers get back to challenging for the NBA title. According to the NBA expert, the duo will not scare opponents and moreover, they will need other assets to make them a winning unit as current young players — Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram — will have to be traded to have any chance of landing Davis.

“Like, I’m not blown away. If LeBron and AD get together, that doesn’t scare me,” Bucher told Scoop B Radio Podcast. “One, because, if you’re talking about playing for titles, you need a lot more than that, so if you’re going to get him in the short term, if you’re going to get him for next year, it means you’re gonna have to give up some of the assets, some of the players, some of the talent you have right now, okay?”

“That talent isn’t all that great, but even so, how are you going to replace it? Where are you going to get the replacement pieces?” he added.

The Lakers will have stiff competition for the signature of Davis in the summer, with the Boston Celtics also keen admirers of the power forward. They have a number of assets available that can trump the Lakers’ offer.