In a recent appearance on “The BIG” podcast, former NBA sharpshooter Jamal Crawford explained why the Lakers should consider trading Anthony Davis this summer.
“I’m with Shaq. They don’t have enough to compete right now,” said Crawford on the Lake Show. “My thing is, if LeBron’s still your best player at this point, I’m looking at trading Anthony Davis. I’m just telling you, you can get 4-5 pieces to go with him that fit LeBron if LeBron’s still gonna be your best player. They need another wing, a dominant wing scorer.”
Jamal Crawford thinks the Lakers should trade AD 👀
(🎥 @bigpodwithshaq / https://t.co/5clxBNeewE) pic.twitter.com/NLZkYbGPT7
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 27, 2024
At 9th in the West this season, the Lakers just haven’t been good enough. Despite the best efforts from LeBron James, the team has been unable to play consistent basketball and it has resulted in an up-and-down campaign.
But with so many other great teams out West, the Lakers are currently major underdogs to advance past the first round. Anthony Davis, for all he brings to the floor, has been part of the reason for his team’s decline.
Averaging 24.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game this season, Davis has been great overall and the second-best player on the team. But the Lakers need him to be more than that if they are to make any kind of noise in the postseason.
Now that LeBron James is almost 40, the time is past due for Davis to take up the mantle as leader and become the star that the Lakers need him to be. So far, however, it just hasn’t worked out and LeBron remains the go-to guy both on and off the court.
Would The Lakers Really Trade Anthony Davis?
The Lakers gave up a lot for Davis back in 2019. In a huge, blockbuster deal that was forced by the Brow himself, the Lakers had to give up Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Julius Randle — two of which have become All-Star caliber players.
Davis is a superstar himself and he’s arguably one of the best defenders in the game. But there are lingering questions about his durability and capabilities as a leader on the floor.
In the end, the Lakers were able to win a championship with LeBron James and Anthony Davis only a year after the trade and it was all most fans needed for the deal to be worthwhile.
Four years later, however, and the good feeling from that title is starting to fade. The Lakers have stumbled and tripped over the past three seasons and they are on the verge of being bounced out early in this one.
In the event of an early defeat or even a failure to make the playoffs at all, Rob Pelinka may feel more pressure to make a big deal and surround LeBron with enough talent, even if it means trading Davis in the process.
As good as the big man has looked next to James, how much better could the Lakers be if they replaced him with several high-quality starters who can split the load evenly? According to Crawford, it would make all the difference.
For now, of course, a Davis trade remains strictly off-limits in any potential deal and it will only take a miracle package for Pelinka to think about parting ways with the star big man. But as the situation develops, the sense of desperation in Los Angeles will be a thing to monitor, especially if LeBron decides not to return to the team this summer.
