Los Angeles Lakers: Building the all-time “second best” squad

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Staples Center on March 03, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Staples Center on March 03, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
4 of 5
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

PF: Anthony Davis

This one is kind of cheating as Anthony Davis has not even played a full season with the Los Angeles Lakers yet. However, he is trailing LeBron James in VORP this season and if the season does return, unless LeBron gets hurt, Davis will finish second.

If Davis signs a new contract with the Lakers then he undoubtedly will lead the team someday in VORP. However, today, he has not done that and we really needed a solid power forward for this team.

And no, we could not have used someone such as Karl Malone. We could have, but we would be getting the Lakers’ version of Malone, not the Jazz version.

Davis is one of the top-seven or so players in the NBA and is easily one of the three-best two-way players in the league. Davis is a lethal threat on the offensive side of the court and on defense is a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate.

Davis might not have the accolades that Worthy and Goodrich has but if he manages to carve out a long enough career and has a natural progression and regression then he absolutely will be a Hall of Famer.

Just look at his career averages. Davis is averaging 24 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game thus far in his career and you can argue he has not even hit his prime yet as he just turned 27.