Search around in any online space where Los Angeles Lakers fans exist and it will not take long before you find someone talking about the idea of Anthony Davis returning to the franchise. How feasible is that really? More importantly, why Davis and not Max Christie?
Of the two players who the Lakers sent to the Dallas Mavericks in the legendary Luka Doncic trade, Christie is the one who makes far more sense for Los Angeles moving forward. The practicality of reuniting with the former second-round steal is not completely ludicrous either.
The Anthony Davis ship has sailed in Los Angeles
Davis is entering 2026-27 in the second-last year of his deal before a player option for 2027-28. That should be expected to go one of two ways for the former Laker.
Either Davis opts out of his final year with the confidence of knowing a new max deal is coming his way, or the 2020 NBA champ picks up that $62.8 million player option to give himself one more chance at getting big money again. Neither scenario sets up a move back to Los Angeles.
If Davis proves himself as a max player, that puts him out of the Lakers' price range. Los Angeles should have the nontaxpayer midlevel exception and the biannual exception next offseason. Neither of those two get AD on a flight to Hollywood.
Should Davis opt to pick up that player option, how would the Lakers even work toward matching his salary in a potential trade? There should be no consideration given to the idea of gutting the roster for an aging former superstar who has struggled with injuries. The price is just not worth it.
Max Christie is within closer reach and fits better in Los Angeles
Meanwhile over in Dallas, Christie could enter unrestricted free agency next summer. All that he would need to do is decline his $8.9 million player option for 2027-28.
Austin Reaves gave back money on his new extension. Sandro Mamukelashvili took a second-year dip on his new deal. That should give the Lakers access to the money necessary to pursue a reunion in free agency.
The Mavericks will not be rushing to just let Christie walk away. The former Laker aligns with the Cooper Flagg timeline and they would be foolish to just let him leave for nothing. That is especially true after a career year in 2025-26.
Money does talk, though. If the Lakers are willing to outspend the Mavericks, reuniting with a guy who just played solid point of attack defense and shot over 40 percent from beyond the arc last season would be a move worth making. Christie is certainly the more logical guy of the two to bring back.
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