The Los Angeles Lakers are facing a must-win season with their two best players aging, and their recent struggles have raised questions about the team's ceiling. Superstar LeBron James has started to slow down in year 22, which would normally be expected, but he has been defying age for half a decade now.
His desire to play all 82 games could indicate that he is aiming to get the most out of this year before potentially retiring after this season. If he does retire after this season, Lakers insider Jovan Buddha, believes that fellow superstar Anthony Davis could demand to be traded.
If Davis does request a trade, then the Lakers may oblige him, particularly with Davis having one of the best seasons of his career. While there is still injury concern with him, he has been mostly healthy over the last season plus and he could still likely draw a couple of first-round picks to help aid their rebuild.
With LeBron and Davis potentially off of their books, the Lakers may even become a cap space team and potentially be able to draw another star or two in Los Angeles to eventually replace their two best players.
NBA Rumors: The Los Angeles Lakers should consider trading Anthony Davis if they can't build around him.
If LeBron decides to play another year, then that could postpone Davis asking out, if he ever does. After all, Davis may love playing in LA, and he might be fine being the team's face of the franchise as they look to transition to a new phase.
Davis is 31 years old and while injuries may keep him from playing deep into his thirties he could still have two or three good seasons left in him before he begins to decline. Even then his defensive ability, length, and mobility should make him a terrific defensive player beyond those years. Whether the Lakers can actually rebuild around Davis will depend on when LeBron retires.
The Lakers could conceivably trade for a star after LeBron retires or even have enough cap space in the summer of 2026 to convince a star to join them. On the other hand, there are fewer and fewer stars available in free agency every year thanks to many signing contract extensions.
The most prominent star projected to be available that year would De'Aaron Fox who currently plays for the Sacramento Kings. Whether he would jump ship to the Lakers or whether that would keep Davis from wanting to leave L.A. remains to be seen. What is clear is that the Lakers may soon look a lot different.