The Los Angeles Lakers have had a very interesting offseason. Last year, the Lakers targeted veteran wings to fill out the roster and brought along players who were past their prime in Trevor Ariza, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, and Kent Bazemore, among others.
This year’s strategy has been completely different, with the Lakers looking at young players like Lonnie Walker IV, Thomas Bryant, Damion Jones, and others. They don’t have the experience that championship teams require but will be easier to develop into Coach Darvin Ham’s philosophy.
With no difference-making name added, the Lakers offseason has been met with a lot of skepticism. Ric Bucher believes that the Lakers’ offseason has been a failure, not because of the players they have added, but because of Anthony Davis admitting that he spent the last couple of months completely away from playing basketball.
He should be devastated. It’s not because they don’t have any traction on a Kyrie Irving trade, which is going to happen eventually, it’s the first week in July and training camp doesn’t open until the end of September. LeBron has plenty of things to do in the offseason. The Kyrie Irving thing is going to happen eventually. He should be devastated because of what Anthony Davis revealed when it came to what he has been doing.”
“I’m not worried about his shot or his skills. I’m worried about his body, his commitment, and his hunger to win a championship.”
Anthony Davis’s injury history is problematic, but it is unfair to make larger accusations against his commitment to the Lakers. Most players have an offseason routine where they do not engage in basketball.
Davis’s lack of playing time last season due to injury meant that many people expected him to be in the gym more often. Coach Ham has confirmed that AD spent the 2 months where he didn’t shoot a basketball working on his body to make it more durable.
You don’t get to be on a team with LeBron James and take it easy. If Davis was not committed, the Lakers would have been looking to trade him for a superstar-level player like Kevin Durant, who would be extremely motivated to win. LBJ trusts Davis implicitly, so LeBron probably isn’t losing sleep over what AD had to say about his offseason training regimen.
