The Los Angeles Lakers can never be counted out of contention due to the presence of an incredibly talented duo. We all know what LeBron James brings to the table, but with his age, it seems Anthony Davis is the primary option on the court.
Both James and Davis can be free agents at the end of the 2023-24 season. Rob Pelinka spoke about how highly he values Davis while talking to ESPN, implying he wants to extend AD’s contract.
“I wish the CBA allowed us to talk about negotiations… But there are pretty strict rules around that, so can’t really talk about contracts and negotiations, but couldn’t think more highly of Anthony Davis as a Laker and as a player. He’s helped deliver a championship to our franchise.”
Pelinka also recognized AD as a leader for playing through injury and leading the Lakers to the Conference Finals.
“He’s been an incredible captain and leader. We saw last year, willing to play through a hard foot injury to get our team to the Western Conference finals. So, just love having him as a part of our team.”
AD averaged 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2,0 blocks in 56 games due to injury. Though he stayed on the court for the entirety of the playoffs, he was playing hurt and struggling. AD may never have a healthy season in the NBA again, but the Lakers have put enough talent around him and LeBron to mitigate the time either star spends on the bench.
Depth Over Star Power In LA
The Lakers chose to make smart acquisitions this summer. They retained their core while adding backups in almost every position. Davis will have Jaxson Hayes behind him as a defensive option, but Hayes lacks the offensive refinement that the Lakers may need from their five. This opens up another need for a scoring big man that the Lakers can pursue this summer.
Christian Wood is the best available option for the Lakers, averaging 16.6 points and 7.3 rebounds last season with the Mavericks. His career arc of never being able to stick with a team should be a red flag, as the Lakers need every player to buy into their role. There aren’t many options beyond Wood for the Lakers, and it doesn’t look like Wood can get more than a minimum contract anywhere. This could be an incredible marriage of need with low risk but a high ceiling.
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