Ever since Los Angeles Lakers acquired Anthony Davis in 2019, he has become one of the most reliable pieces of the roster. With the Lakers, he won his first-ever NBA championship in 2020 while contributing heavily to the campaign. Last season also, Davis was the guiding force of Hollywood who helped them reach till conference finals.
As the off-season kicked off, the Lakers are yet to decide on the future of Anthony Davis. In an ideal world, he should continue to don the purple and gold jersey. But rumors of LeBron James‘ objection have raised a lot of doubt. Meanwhile, considering that the Lakers do keep him on the roster for the next season, a well-known NBA expert counts him as an MVP candidate.
Anthony Davis Potential MVP Candidate For 2023-24 NBA Season?
Last season, Anthony Davis wreaked havoc in the second half. With LeBron James on the bench for the crucial part of the tournament, Davis held the fort from one end to help the Lakers reach playoffs, eventually, the Western Conference finals. His average for the whole 2022-23 NBA season stood at 25.9 points and 12.5 rebounds. However, Davis thrived more in the defender’s role. His ability to play at both ends of the court simultaneously made him a valuable asset. However, unwanted injuries once again limited his growth. He could only play 56 out of a possible 82 games, which dented his overall season numbers.
Regardless, Anthony Davis’ playoff form has led an NBA expert named Bill Simmons to believe that the Lakers forward has the potential to become an MVP next season. Bill said that he has looked at the Lakers roster for the next season, and his eyes stopped at Davis. The kind of roster the team has built will suit AD’s gameplay perfectly. He can play more at the center, which will result in additional touches. Simmons added that while LeBron James is undoubtedly one of the greatest of all time, Anthony Davis is in his prime. The 30-year-old, if manages to stay healthy for the whole season, can become an MVP. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that the MVP race is highly competitive and subject to numerous variables. Other elite players like Nikola Jokic and Steph Curry, among others, will undoubtedly be in contention for the award.
ESPN Analyst Lauds Lakers GM’s “Pre-Agency” Methods
When Lakers GM Rob Pelinka overhauled the team roster during the trade deadline, he termed it as a “pre-agency” method. Under this method, the GM got to look at how a few free agency potentials perform and fit into Hollywood, said ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. This method also allowed the Lakers to lock someone like D’Angelo Russell in a cheap deal two-year, $37 million deal. Ramona further claimed that it’s because of this method the team is looking sorted in just one week of free agency.
The Lakers have retained D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura in the first week of the off-season. The trio earned a stellar deal, with Reaves grabbing $56 million for a four-year contract. The purple and gold looked highly pleased with the new-look roster’s performance at the playoffs. Hence, they chose to keep this intact for at least the next couple of seasons.
