The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly want to upgrade significantly at the center position, but their options at that position aren’t great. Walker Kessler and Jalen Duren, two of their big center targets, are both restricted free agents, and a trade with the Dallas Mavericks for Daniel Gafford may not be realistic, given what the optics could be so soon after the Luka Doncic trade.
There are some Lakers fans who would love to have Anthony Davis back. He was certainly a transformational figure during his five and a half seasons with the team before he was sent out in the Doncic trade, and while he has been very injury-prone since, the 33-year-old’s talent and skills are undeniable.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson proposed a gigantic three-team trade that would not only give L.A. Davis back, but would also bring it a young wing prospect. In this deal, the Lakers would receive Davis, Utah Jazz forward Ace Bailey and two second-round draft picks apiece from the Jazz and Washington Wizards. They would give up Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, Jake LaRavia, their No. 25 draft pick this year, unprotected first-rounders in 2030 and 2032 and three pick swaps in 2028, 2029 and 2031.
In this scenario, as Robinson laid out, LeBron James agrees to stay with L.A. for $18 million next season, forward Rui Hachimura agrees to an $11 million deal and Luke Kennard stays for $7 million a year. Marcus Smart would exercise his player option for next season, and the Lakers could sign a backup center to a veteran minimum contract.
The interesting thing here is the acquisition of Bailey. The Lakers need at least one athletic, two-way wing, and Bailey could fit the bill. He’s 6-foot-9, allowing him to play both forward positions, and he possesses high-level athleticism. He averaged 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.7 blocks in 27.6 minutes a game this season as a rookie.
The chances of anything along the lines of this trade actually happening in real life are slim to none, but as they say, stranger things have happened.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Reporter’s wild trade pitch to bring Anthony Davis back to Lakers
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire | USA TODAY Network
