Since the start of the 2021-22 NBA season, rumors have been swirling around All-Star power forward Anthony Davis and his future with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers may not have shown a strong indication that they are planning to move Davis before the 2022 NBA trade deadline but with his struggle earlier this season, some people think that the Purple and Gold are better off using him as the main trade chip to improve their roster around LeBron James.
NBA Rumors: Anthony Davis Could Be Traded To Kings For Hield, Barnes, Holmes & Draft Picks
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The Latest
Anthony Davis To Sacramento Kings
Davis is still under rehabilitation after suffering an injury earlier this season but once he returns to perfect shape, he's expected to receive a strong interest on the trade market. Among his potential suitors before the 2022 NBA trade deadline is the Sacramento Kings. In a recent article, Jack Simone of Fansided's Hoops Habit suggested two Davis-centered blockbuster trade ideas that would help fix the Lakers.
These include a hypothetical deal that would send him to the Kings. In the proposed trade scenario, the Kings would be offering a package that includes Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, Richaun Holmes, a 2022 first-round pick, a 2024 first-round pick, and the rights to swap first-rounders in 2023 and 2025 to the Lakers in exchange for Davis, Kendrick Nunn, and DeAndre Jordan.
Kings Pair De'Aaron Fox With A Legitimate Superstar
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Giving up all those assets for Davis would make a lot of sense for the Kings if they still don't have any plan of undergoing a full-scale rebuild. Instead of taking a different route and focusing on the development of their young players, the proposed blockbuster deal with the Lakers would enable the Kings to build a more competitive roster around the face of the franchise, De'Aaron Fox.
Though he has gone through plenty of ups and downs earlier this season, Davis, when he's 100 percent healthy, remains one of the best active players in the league. Pairing him with Fox won't make the Kings an instant title contender, but it would give them a realistic chance of ending their 15-year playoff drought this season.
Kings Add A Solid Two-Way Star
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Davis would be a great acquisition for the Kings. His potential arrival in Sacramento would provide them with a massive frontcourt upgrade and bring much-needed improvement to their offense and defense. As of now, the Kings' offensive and defensive efficiencies only rank 24th and 25th, respectively, per ESPN.
In Davis, the Kings would be getting a prolific scorer, a monster rebounder, a great rebounder, and a decent floor-spacer. This season, he's averaging 23.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 1.2 steals while shooting 52.1 percent from the field, per ESPN.
Why The Lakers Would Make The Trade
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For the Lakers, sending Davis to the Kings would be worth exploring if they no longer think that he could help James win another NBA championship title. By sacrificing Davis, the Lakers would be acquiring an immediate replacement for him at the starting power forward position in Barnes, while adding an elite three-point shooter in Hield, a defensive-minded center in Holmes, and future first-round picks.
Though he's not as good as Davis, Barnes would be an intriguing addition to the Lakers. Aside from having a championship experience, Barnes' stint with the Golden State Warriors has taught him how to efficiently co-exist alongside star players, making him a great fit alongside James.
