2. Getting a superstar via free agency this summer seems unlikely
This was probably the plan all along. But right now it’s hard to imagine it happening, as things have changed since last summer.
Many Laker fans are dreaming of Kevin Durant leaving Silicon Valley to move to Silicon Beach and join the Lakers. I don’t know about that, especially since he made some not-so-flattering comments about playing on a LeBron James team and the downsides that come with being a part of the LeBron circus.
Durant is sensitive of what others think of him, although it’s something that’s not unusual for NBA superstars. He already has two rings and two NBA Finals MVP awards to his name in as many years with Golden State, and staying there with that mighty team would seem to be his best opportunity to keep hoarding up more of those trophies.
If he came to Los Angeles, he’d have to beat out LeBron for a Finals MVP award, and that could hurt his legacy. Think of how Kobe played at an otherworldly level in helping lead the Lakers to championships in 2001 and 2002, yet Shaq gets most of the credit since he won all those Finals MVPs during their threepeat.
Kawhi Leonard would also be a dream choice, as he’s elite at both ends, is only 27 and grew up in the Los Angeles area. But, the Raptors look like the best team in the east right now, and unless they have a major collapse in the playoffs, it’s hard to imagine Leonard leaving that setup.
There’s been noise about Kyrie Irving lately and a possible reunion with LeBron James in L.A. this summer. But Irving said early this season he wants to stay in Boston, and before that, he made some noise about possibly signing with the Knicks or Nets. Keep in mind that Irving went to high school in suburban New York City and that he’s an enigma wrapped in a riddle who seems hard to read or predict.
Besides that, the pickings are slim when it comes to getting a legit star via free agency. Maybe the Lakers could get Klay Thompson if Golden State doesn’t offer him a max contract, but it’s really questionable if he’s a truly game-changing talent who would put the Lakers over the top without a third star next to him, let along one who deserves about $30 million a year.
As the old saying goes, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. If Anthony Davis truly wants to be a Laker, and his agent Rich Paul wants it to happen, he may be that bird in the hand.