Los Angeles Lakers: 5 Concerns from the Anthony Davis trade

3. Are The Lakers Now Guaranteed to Win a Championship Soon?

The argument in favor of the trade is that it will fast-track the Lakers pursuit of an NBA title, which is now tangibly in reach.

But consider some team history. In 1968, the Lakers traded three players for incomparable center Wilt Chamberlain. The trade did result in the team’s first LA title, but not until four years later, in 1972.

In 1975, the Lakers traded four players for the league’s top player, 28-year-old center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was entering his seventh NBA season. Multiple championships followed, but the first didn’t occur until 1980, five years later.

Then in 1996 the Lakers signed center Shaquille O’Neal to a free agent contract. The team ultimately won three titles, but it took four seasons until they won the first one in 2000.

On the other hand, the Lakers traded for center Pau Gasol in mid-season 2008, made the Finals that season, then won back-to-back titles the next two seasons.

Wilt, Kareem and Shaq were three of the best and most dominant players in NBA history. Nobody can realistically argue that Davis is anywhere near as good. But in combination with James and perhaps another star free agent, it is possible the Lakers will contend quickly, especially since the league doesn’t currently have a dominant team. Time alone will tell.