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

Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers are standing at a crossroads. They have one of the best offensive players in the NBA still in his prime, and Damian Lillard is ready to compete now for the only franchise he has ever played for. On the other hand, they have a future star in Shaedon Sharpe and the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft.

If the Blazers decide to pivot into a run with Lillard, that No. 3 pick comes into play as a potential trade chip. Would they see Anthony Davis as a solution to both their co-star issues and their center issues? He could start with Jerami Grant in the frontcourt, with Lillard the expert conductor making the offense sing. On defense, he’s an excellent option to help protect the paint behind smaller guards up front.

For the Lakers, they could plug Anfernee Simons in as the core of a return trade, a player with plenty of upside who has already proven he can score at a high level in the NBA. The No. 3 pick could be Scoot Henderson or a wing, but either way, the Lakers get a blue-chip prospect to build around. Can they also demand Shaedon Sharpe?

All of these deals have to be fine-tuned, but the young stars at the core of each are who matter here. Trading Anthony Davis has to allow the Lakers to see a future where they develop the returning players into headline stars. Ending an era of contention is never easy, but the right trade helps the Lakers cut corners until they’re back contending for a title.