Is LeBron James and Anthony Davis too Much Power for the Lakers to Handle?
The Laker’s prospects for the future went to the next level in June when the Lakers and the Pelicans came to an agreement for Anthony Davis to join LeBron James at the Lakers.
I’m just a sad and sorry Wizards fan so take it for what it is … perhaps I’m looking at the Lakers enviously and bitter that our max-contract star John Wall probably won’t play until 2020-21.
But does the superstar duo of LeBron-Davis have too much power for the Lakers to handle?
Between Lebron and Davis they have a combined reach of over 55 million Instagram followers. The Lakers on the other hand only have 9 million followers. The Lakers as a team are probably not ‘doing it for the gram’ so much as Lebron-Davis but the two have a greater social media reach six-fold.
LeBron was also on the cover of the 2k19 basketball game and Davis gracing the cover of 2k20 which shows off their star power. The both of them also have endorsement deals that are out of this world.
Very recently the Lakers lost DeMarcus Cousins for the season and as the rumours would have it, Davis had a big say in the Lakers signing Dwight Howard – with Davis suggesting he does not want to play at centre any more than he should. This is supporting the theory of the unyielding star power that is starting to play out between the two.
The Lakers threw the kitchen sink at the Pelicans and they got their man – a trade sending Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and three first-round picks in exchange for Anthony Davis. The entire future of LA has now been mortgaged.
Might I remind all of the Celtic’s plundering the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 in what would seem almost fraudulent?
From the Lakers, the Pelicans received the #4 pick in the 2019 NBA draft (which they converted into picks #8, #17 and #35), a top-eight protected pick in 2021, an unprotected pick in 2024 and the right to swap picks with LA in both 2023 and 2025.
It’s a calculated risk by the Lakers. Davis is in the prime of his career at 26 and LeBron is entering the twilight of his career at 34. For the second most successful team in NBA history (16 championships and one behind the Boston Celtics) and the most supported franchise, it was a must for the Lakers to draft, trade and reshape its way to a glamorous lineup.
Despite the heavy risks involved the Lakers know what they’re getting themselves into. Chasing only the elite superstars of the NBA is a part of their DNA.
The combination of LeBron James and Anthony Davis gracing the courts together was too tempting to pass on. The Lakers are the second highest valued franchise in the NBA and the duo is worthy of complementing the second most successful franchise in history.
The last time the Lakers had a winning record was in 2013 when they finished 41-25. After finishing with a lowly record of 37-45 last season the Lakers have now become a contender. Some are considering the Lakers as favourites to take out the championship. The prediction is that they’ll finish with a record of 51.5 wins in the 2019-20 season.
Lakers fans probably know by now that staying cautiously optimistic and realistic will be doing themselves a favour, by emotionally protecting each other. It’s easy to get excited but with the future being mortgaged with a ‘win-now’ approach it’s all a game of high stakes poker.
But what would I know, I’m a lowly Wizards fan.