Anthony Davis Union With LeBron, Lakers Possible, Durant Statement Unfounded, Barnes Says

Anthony Davis is now being openly courted by interested franchises and the Los Angeles Lakers look to be leading the charge with LeBron James stating that it would be "incredible" to play with the New Orleans Pelicans power forward.

Davis is contracted to the Pelicans until the summer of 2020 and is eligible for a supermax at the end of the current campaign. Despite that, he has been linked with a move away from New Orleans with a potential trade even before this season’s deadline in February.

Recently Kevin Durant, another player linked with a move to the Lakers, suggested that top players in the NBA are unlikely to want to play in the same team as James as it does not allow them to play with freedom.

But former Golden State Warrior Matt Barnes disagrees and feels Davis could want to play with James as a Laker in the future. He feels the three-time NBA champion is assessing the Lakers’ strengths and weaknesses this season to find out which of the top guys can join him there to make them a title challenging unit.

And Davis is surely that candidate and Barnes feels he can make a formidable team alongside James, especially with him putting up impressive numbers on a nightly basis for his current employers.

“I think he would,” Barnes said, as quoted by the Express. “I think there’s so much talk of ‘I don’t want to play with LeBron’ and all that.”

“LeBron is really surveying the scene this year. He’s analysing the team, analysing what pieces he has and who his co-pilot is going to be. Could you imagine if he had AD? Every night that AD is young enough to put up all these amazing numbers every night, and then when it’s time for LeBron to put his cape on, he can put the cape on, he can,” he added.

Davis, however, is unlikely to force a move before the end of the current campaign after brushing off James’ call to unite in Los Angeles. He expressed his love for New Orleans and is said to be keen to win with the team that he has spent his entire NBA career.

Meanwhile, Barnes also praised Kyle Kuzma, who is now the “second option” for the Lakers behind James. The 23-year-old is averaging 18.2 points and 5.8 rebounds this season. And the former Warrior has no doubt he will be a first option in the future, but currently wants Davis to come and play right-hand man to James, who has been tasked with leading the Lakers back to winning ways.

“I think Kuzma has really improved himself, and he’s now a second option,” Barnes said. “He’ll be a first option in time. But right now I would really like to see him as a third with AD as your first option with LeBron there too.”