LeBron Needs Durant Or Davis, Curry Will Win 3rd MVP, Pierce Explains

The Los Angeles Lakers can be title contenders in the coming seasons with LeBron James, but they will have to add at least one more top player to compliment the three-time NBA champion, according to Paul Pierce.

The Lakers have missed out on the playoffs for five consecutive seasons, which is not something the second most successful franchise – 14 championships - in NBA history can be proud of.

James was brought in on a $164 million, four-year deal this summer in order to right that wrong and after a difficult start, the Lakers seem to be getting into their groove. They are currently in fifth place on the Western Conference table and on course to make the post-season playoffs just behind the Warriors, who have dislodged from the top.

However, it is very early in the season and many things can change by the time the regular season draws to a close in 2019. The Lakers are aware that they need to build around James to become title contenders in the near future and they do have cap space to add another big free agent next summer.

Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis have been heavily linked with a move in recent months and Pierce, an NBA champion with the Boston Celtics in 2008, believes the Lakers should sign one of them to have a chance of winning the title before James is done.

“It’s possible. They’ve got the building block in LeBron. That’s a start,” Pierce said on ESPN’s “The Jump” in response to Kobe Bryant’s claim that the Lakers will be the NBA champions sooner rather than later, as quoted by the Express.

“But they have to get one of Durant or Davis if they’re going to win another title before LeBron’s done,” the former Celtics small forward added.

Durant will be an unrestricted free agent next summer and could move to the Lakers, but Davis still has almost two years left on his deal with the New Orleans Pelicans while also being eligible for a max contract next summer.

Pierce, meanwhile, also praised Durant’s teammate Stephen Curry, who looks to be back in form after missing 10 games with a groin injury. The former Celtics forward believes the Golden State Warriors point guard is leading the race to win the 2018-19 regular season MVP award.

Curry is averaging 29.2 points, 5.6 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game and Pierce is certain that if he keeps up the form, the Warriors will end up winning their third straight NBA title in 2019.

“Right now, I think Steph Curry is the leading candidate for MVP,” Pierce said, as quoted by the Express. “If he keeps up his play, the Warriors will be first at the end of the year.”

“His numbers are off the charts. Right now, he’s going to win his third MVP,” the 2008 NBA champion added.