In a recent segment on ‘The Herd,’ NBA analyst Colin Cowherd pitched his idea for a blockbuster trade involving Anthony Davis. By sending out their prized star big man for picks, the Lakers would effectively be starting a rebuild that would bring an end to the LeBron James era.
“This roster was built for Darvin Ham, and they fired him. It is not built for JJ Redick,” said Cowherd. “But I think there’s a trade partner. Just think about this… what is an organization with a ton of draft capital, and a ton of good young players which the Lakers have nobody in their prime except AD and it’s his late prime. The Lakers need shooting, wing defenders, and the Thunder don’t have enough girth to face a Jokic or a Gobert. They don’t have enough girth, they are not good enough on the glass.”
The proposed deal would send Anthony Davis to the Thunder for a package including Jalen Williams, Carson Wallace, and four first-round picks. It would be a major game-changer for both sides especially for Anthony Davis, who would swap teams for the third time in his career.
The Lakers haven’t made the Finals since 2020, but all indications say they’re not ready to give up on the LeBron James and Anthony Davis duo. With new coach JJ Redick in the fold, the hope is that he can prevent this kind of scenario by steering the Lakers back to a top-four spot in the West.
Naturally, there are many who have their doubts and Davis is chief among them. It’s no secret that JJ was not AD’s top choice and there are rumblings that he could force his way out if things turn ugly next season. As a team with a lot to give and plenty of motivation to make a move, the Thunder arguably makes the most sense for Davis as a potential trade destination.
The 31-year-old star is widely regarded as one the top players in the game and he’s coming off a season where he averaged 24.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game on 55% shooting. Alongside a floor spacing like Chet Holmgren and a regular MVP candidate like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Davis could lift the Thunder to new heights and put them on a level of dominance they haven’t seen since the days of Kevin Durant.
The Lakers would only trade Davis if they had to it would be hard to do better than four first-round picks and a potential All-Star for an injury-prone big man in his 30s. Since the Lakers do not have any major draft capital right now, building up their asset pool will allow them to hasten the inevitable rebuild process.
Of course, they would also have Jalen Williams to help strengthen their frontcourt. The 23-year-old averaged 19.1 points per game for the Thunder last season and was their second-best player through the first two rounds of the playoffs. Without Anthony Davis on the roster, Williams would step into a bigger role on the Lakers and he could be someone who sticks around for them several years down the line.
For both the Thunder and the Lakers, there are several reasons why they might consider this trade and even though it’s unlikely to happen, I have seen stranger things before. One way or another, Anthony Davis is going to be at the heart of the Lakers’ offseason and what they choose to do going forward will have drastic implications for the rest of the Western Conference.
