Lakers: The Anthony Davis trade and the 5 best trades of the decade

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 08: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers keeps the ball from Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers as he posts up during the first half at Staples Center on March 08, 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 Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 08: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers keeps the ball from Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers as he posts up during the first half at Staples Center on March 08, 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 Harry How/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

3. The Los Angeles Lakers trading for Anthony Davis

One year after it was completed we can say that the Anthony Davis trade was the third-best trade that any NBA team made in the entire decade. However, if we give it more time, then this could easily become the best trade of the decade.

The one thing working against this trade, in terms of our rankings today, is there is so much uncertainty lying ahead. While it is most likely that Davis will be a Laker in the long-term, he does have a player option this offseason and could theoretically sign with another team, making him a one-year rental.

Davis and the Lakers winning the title this year would move this trade up to number two. If the Lakers win the title at some point and Davis becomes the franchise player moving forward, which seems to be the plan, then this is undoubtedly going to be the best trade of the decade.

We simply cannot rank it ahead of the other two trades on this list on the hope alone of that being the reality.

As we said, if the Lakers win the NBA Title in 2020 then this trade would absolutely be the second-best of the decade. IThis trade and number 2 would be similar in that regard, as number 2 led to a championship, but did not lead to the long-term success that the Lakers are hoping for with Davis.