Los Angeles Lakers: Will Anthony Davis leave if the Lakers underperform?

Reasons why Anthony Davis might stay on the Los Angeles Lakers

There are multiple reasons why Anthony Davis would want to stay on the Los Angeles Lakers. Let’s break them down.

1. The financial impact of COVID-19

We are still unsure in how the salary cap is going to look next season due to the loss of revenue as well as moving forward. It seems to be all but a guarantee that the salary cap will be lowered, which lowers the total dollar amount of max contracts given out.

For that reason, it might make more financial success for Davis to play out the player option on his deal, make $28.7 million and then work out a long-term contract the following offseason when things (hopefully) get back to normal.

It would only be a one-year guarantee for the Lakers, but it is better than him leaving.

2. The long-term success possibility of the Los Angeles Lakers

Anthony Davis really seems to be concerned about his legacy in the league and there is no better way to leave a lasting legacy than by becoming one of the Lakers’ all-time greats.

The Los Angeles Lakers, mostly because of the allure of the franchise, give AD the best long-term chance of having more success post-LeBron James. The Lakers are going to be more successful in bringing in a superstar, such as a Giannis Antetokounmpo, than other teams because of the massive LA market and history in the franchise.

3. If not the Los Angeles Lakers then who?

I think this is the most important question to ask about Anthony Davis potentially leaving. If Davis does leave the Lakers then where would he go? There are rumblings of him going home to the Chicago Bulls but they are not even close to being in a position to contend.

The New York Knicks could be a possibility but I would not trust their chances in bringing in any superstar. The Miami Heat are freeing up a lot of money and that would be an interesting fit alongside Jimmy Butler (with no state income tax) or there could be a sleeper team like the Toronto Raptors.

If Gordon Hayward opts out of his contract then the Boston Celtics are a possibility but that is highly unlikely. It is pretty hard to find a new home for Davis if he does leave, with the Heat being the only team that makes any sort of sense.