The Los Angeles Lakers were hoping that Anthony Davis would become the superstar to lead the franchise as LeBron James continues to get older. He has won a championship with the team, but Davis has shown it is difficult for him to stay healthy for an entire season.
Anthony Davis will become an unrestricted free agent in two years, and as such, the Lakers have to make a decision on extending him soon. But Kendrick Perkins doesn’t think the team should do it.
“We haven’t seen a healthy Anthony Davis in, what, three or four years? You have to start asking yourself if you’re the front office… Can you trust AD and hand him the keys to the car?”
.@KendrickPerkins doesn't think the Lakers should extend Anthony Davis 👀
"We haven't seen a healthy Anthony Davis in, what, three or four years? You have to start asking yourself if you're the front office … Can you trust AD and hand him the keys to the car?" pic.twitter.com/MpanORzy4h
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) June 5, 2023
At his best, Anthony Davis is easily one of the best players in the entire NBA. He dominated in the 2020 Bubble for the Lakers and was a big reason they won the championship. But since then, he has played more than 40 games in just one out of three seasons. And his prolonged absences have cost the Lakers in a big way.
Davis was relatively healthy this season, with 25.9 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, which would make him worth a big extension. But if his health has been this spotty throughout what has been his prime, then handing him a potential $160 million extension over three years would present a big risk for the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers Have Hinted That They Will Invest In LeBron James And Anthony Davis Moving Forward
The Los Angeles Lakers are a franchise used to success, and fans expect only the best every year. Committing to a rebuild when still having LeBron James doesn’t seem like an option, and as per Rob Pelinka, they will invest in James and Davis instead.
“Three of those four years, Western Conference Finals one year, a championship one year. I think that’s frankly where we’re supposed to be. So I’m not up here pounding our chest and feeling proud about it. That’s where the Lakers are supposed to be…
“But LeBron and AD as two pillars is, you know, to us an unmatched combination that will continue to lean into and build around and both incredibly high character players that want to win, play the game the right way. We’re proud of that combination of superstars and want to continue to invest in that.”
LeBron James himself has an uncertain future; he has even hinted at retirement. Whether they want to keep AD even after LeBron potentially leaves remains to be seen. One way or another, some big decisions are coming up for the Los Angeles Lakers.
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