3 young stars to trade Anthony Davis for if LeBron James leaves Lakers

RJ Barrett + Quentin Grimes, New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are star-hunting this offseason; if it’s still considered a secret, it’s the worst-kept secret in the league. They were patient last offseason, holding onto their chips in a Donovan Mitchell trade and giving Jalen Brunson a year to make this his team. Now they are ready to push their chips into the middle and trade for a star.

They have been linked to a number of names, from Joel Embiid and Trae Young to Karl-Anthony Towns to Damian Lillard. Anthony Davis, however, would look like an excellent fit in Tom Thibodeau’s scheme and an excellent pick-and-roll partner for Jalen Brunson.

The Knicks would likely love to build an offer around Julius Randle, but the Lakers would (wisely) ask for RJ Barrett to start the deal off. Add in Quentin Grimes, Mitchell Robinson and some significant draft capital, and a deal starts to come together. The Knicks could start a group including Brunson, Immanuel Quickley, Josh Hart, Randle and Davis, a formidable team in the East.

Out on the West Coast, the Lakers would have a number of pieces to build around. Barrett had an up-and-down season, but he’s a two-way ball-handling wing, and those players don’t grow on trees. Grimes is growing into one of the league’s best 3-and-D wings, while Robinson is a solid starting center. Those picks can further build out the roster, or the Lakers can look to package them with Barrett for their next star.