Lake Show Life
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New threat to steal Anthony Davis from Lakers has emerged

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 20: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before playing against the Denver Nuggets in game three of the Western Conference Finals at Crypto.com Arena on May 20, 2023 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 - MAY 20: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before playing against the Denver Nuggets in game three of the Western Conference Finals at Crypto.com Arena on May 20, 2023 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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The Los Angeles Lakers traded for Anthony Davis back in the summer of 2019 in what will go down as one of the biggest trades in franchise history. Without AD, the Lakers do not win the 2020 championship and do not have the multi-year title window that the team has enjoyed.

Not everything can last forever and the Lake Show is coming up to a crossroads with AD. Davis has an early termination clause on his contract, allowing him to hit free agency if he wants to go that route next summer.

At that point, Davis will be 31 years old and he doesn’t necessarily have the cleanest bill of health. With LeBron James’ future unclear, there is a world in which the Lakers are reluctant to pay Davis on a big new deal that will take him into his mid-30s.

If Davis does hit the market there will certainly be suitors and the first potential suitor has emerged in the Brooklyn Nets. Sam Quinn of CBS Sports outlined how the Nets could be one of the big spenders of the 2024 offseason with Sharif Phillips-Keaton of Nets Wire specifically mentioning Anthony Davis.

Nets could be a threat to steal Anthony Davis from the Lakers

Brooklyn has the means to sign Davis to a contract and from a historical perspective, Brooklyn has to be considered the most likely to take a risk like this. The Nets have shown a desperation to get stars in the past and will bring a star to the team even if it is a risky move.

Other teams may question how Davis will age with his health while Brooklyn has historically been a team that overlooks that just to get a star. After all, if the Nets have the chance to add someone like Anthony Davis to a core that is already led by Mikal Bridges then they may jump all over it.

This will be the Lake Show in a very peculiar situation if it comes to fruition. While no team wants to lose a star for nothing, it would be really risky to commit to paying Davis over $50 million a year when he is 35. The regression cliff could be right around the corner and that could turn into a bad contract fast.

But what is the alternative? Don’t re-sign Davis, let LeBron walk and then be a horrible team for the 2024-25 season? That doesn’t seem great, either.

Next. 22 players the Lakers gave up on too early. dark

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