Anthony Davis has been huge for the L.A. Lakers this season. Averaging 26 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game on 50% shooting, the 27-year-old superstar has made the Lakers legitimate title contenders.
Still, despite how well things appear to be going, Davis has yet to make any type of long-term commitment to the Purple and Gold. As his upcoming free-agency draws near, many believe he could don a new jersey next season if his current club doesn’t bring home the title.
In fact, in a recent interview with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson of Heavy, ESPN analyst Jay Williams predicted Davis could even switch conferences if the Lakers fail to close the deal these playoffs.
“Anthony Davis is coming up, people,” Williams said. “He’s coming up. If the Lakers don’t do it this year, hello, Chicago. That’s where he is from. We’ve got to start pitching to people who want to come back home and rep home.
People laughed off LeBron going back to Cleveland, didn’t they? We live in a new age. Look at what is happening. The Baltimore Ravens came out with a statement, like, what are you doing for your local community? It means something.”
However unlikely it may seem, stars returning home has been an increasing trend in the past few years. LeBron James returned home to Ohio back in 2014, Kawhi and Paul George signed with the Clipper this past summer (not far from where they grew up) — is Davis the next to follow the pattern?
Besides having a home-town advantage, the Bulls can offer Davis a number of unique opportunities. Following the firings of Jim Boylen and Gar Forman, the team seems to be turning over a new leaf and if those positions are still open this offseason, Davis could have a say as to who he’d want his next head coach to be.
With Zach LaVine, Coby White, and Lauri Markkanen, Chicago has a lot of young pieces to either trade for another star or develop with hopes they’ll be enough to make the team a legitimate contender.
Either way, it all begins and ends with AD. He has the power to change the trajectory of one of the most notorious franchises in professional sports.
No matter what happens, you can’t blame him for liking the thought of all that.
