NBA Rumors: Anthony Davis Move Key To Lakers Landing Durant Or Leonard

The Los Angeles Lakers need some serious work in the summer in terms of rebuilding the squad after yet another disappointing campaign. The NBA’s second most successful team failed to make the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season – a franchise record, an unwanted one at that. Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, and Kevin Durant are all the names being mentioned as potential summer arrivals.

The Lakers were hoping that the arrival of James on a four-year deal last summer would change their fortunes and it looked that way until December when they were in fourth place in the Western Conference. But an injury to the three-time NBA champion saw him miss 17 straight games, which then saw the Lakers slip out of playoff contention.

James’ return at the end of January failed to reenergize the team and the Lakers management came to realize that just James — along with a few young prospects in Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram — was not enough to get them back to being title contenders. That saw Magic Johnson, the Lakers’ president of basketball operations, and Rob Pelinka, the general manager, make a desperate attempt to sign Anthony Davis via a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans. They were unsuccessful in their attempt and are likely to make another move in the summer.

Sean Deveney of Sporting News believes the Los Angeles franchise has to make another move for Davis in the summer and landing him will help them build a formidable team. They will have to trade Kuzma, Ball and Ingram to land the power forward, but that will allow them to hold on to the $38 million cap space they have to sign a big free agent.

The report claims that with Davis and James on board, it would be easier to attract a top free agent like Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving or even potentially Kevin Durant. Deveney believes none of the top players are likely to be interested if the Lakers only have an ageing James and a bunch of young prospects.

Another dilemma facing the Lakers going into the offseason is the future of head coach Walton. It is widely believed he will be shown the door in the summer after yet another poor campaign with him at the helm and there have been a number of candidates linked to the Lakers top job — Doc Rivers of the Clippers and the currently unemployed Tyronn Lue, who led James to the 2016 NBA title with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Lakers are currently in 10th place and can finish one place higher, which will make no difference, but they could very well finish lower as they have games coming up against the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder. They will also be without James, who has been shut down for the remainder of the season.