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

Should we be worried about Anthony Davis leaving if the Los Angeles Lakers underperform?

Weighing all of the potential reasons for Anthony Davis staying and leaving, I would say that we should not be that worried. I do think that it is a possibility and we should not simply write it off and assume Davis stays, but I think it is more likely that he stays in LA.

However, I do not foresee it being for the long-term. Because of the salary cap situation, the way that LeBron James teams usually end and the new nature of the NBA, I think that the Lakers are either going to get Davis under the player option or will get Davis with an opt-out after two years.

This is what the Los Angeles Clippers have with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard and allows Davis to re-evaluate in two years, considering where LeBron is at the time as well as giving himself the means to leave if he cannot recruit a second star that summer.

I think this will be the reality even if Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers win the NBA Championship this year. The Lakers will get no more than two guaranteed years of Davis in the purple and gold.

I do think the Lakers losing quickly makes it more likely that he leaves and at least makes him think about it. I think the Miami Heat are a really interesting fit for Davis where he has fellow star power in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo but would still be “the guy” on the team.

Plus, that no state income tax, especially if the salary cap is going to be lowered over several seasons, makes it more intriguing.

I think that is the only team that could potentially lure Anthony Davis away from the Los Angeles Lakers and I still think it is very unlikely.