While the Los Angeles Lakers look to improve their current roster, at least two players are off the table. It’s no secret that those two players are the team’s superstars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Despite the many stories linking either player in possible or mock trade scenarios, the team has confirmed that neither will be traded. This leaves the rest of the team up in the air.
Lakers Superstar Due Are Off the Trade Table
Lakers Reiterate LeBron James & Anthony Davis Won’t be Traded
According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, who has an inside track on all things Lakers, he recently reported that the team is not considering trading LeBron or AD. Unless James requests a trade, or Davis for that matter, the conversation would appear closed. James has a no-trade clause in his contract. As for Davis, despite the Lakers troubles of late, he is having one of his overall best seasons as a Laker. JJ Redick has made it the central point of his game plan to direct the offense through Davis. A glimpse at his offensive stats is showing the payoff.
A LeBron trade has rippled through the media and on NBA talk shows lately, much more than it is closer to reality. The Golden State Warriors have taken the cake as a rumored trade destination primarily due to Steph Curry. While the hypothetical is fun to imagine—Curry and James playing together in the NBA—the chances of it coming to fruition were slim to none. Nevertheless, the recent update by Buha is more like a reiteration of LA’s stance on trading their two biggest stars. The front office has held this position for a while, even during this season. Perhaps the excitement around what the Lakers will do and all of the LeBron chatter forced them to re-establish their position.
If Not Them, Then Who?
It’s becoming increasingly hard to imagine D’Angelo Russell surviving past the February trade deadline. He cheated death, so to speak, at last year’s deadline and then again this past offseason. This time around, though, something feels different. D’Lo almost has to be traded at this point, yes? Let the man breathe by sending him off. It’s also likely that Gabe Vincent will be included in any trades the Lakers make. To be blunt, he has not worked out in LA. Granted, he spent almost the entirety of last season on ice due to injury. Since returning to full health this year, though, he’s massively underperforming and can’t find the basket.
Rui Hachimura is another one that the Lakers could bundle in a trade. Although, like Austin Reaves, the organization has expressed its desire to have Rui on the books long-term. The same goes for rookie Dalton Knecht, who has shown he can shoot teams right out of the building. It’s hard to see the Lakers giving him away as well. Suffice it to say that the Lakers do not have a lot of valuable trade pieces. That is, unless you bring up Reaves, then we’re talking. There are two first-round draft picks to consider also. GM Rob Pelinka stated before the season’s tip-off that he would only use them under the right circumstances.
Whatever he and the front office decide to do over the coming weeks, rest assured that LeBron James and Anthony Davis will remain on the Lakers.
