Ever since the Los Angeles Lakers acquired generational superstar Luka Doncic in that tectonic Feb. 1 trade, their future has looked very bright, even if, in retrospect, they didn’t have a real shot at winning the NBA championship this season.
But the other side of the trade is the fact that big man Anthony Davis, a legitimate superstar in his own right, was sent out. There have been whispers that perhaps the organization had some dissatisfaction with him or even that there was a bit of a rift between him and LeBron James.
In the opinion of O’Shea Jackson Sr., also known as the rapper Ice Cube, the Lakers grew a little wary of Davis’ frequent injuries.
“I’ve never had a problem with his game, it’s the injuries,” Jackson said while on “The Skip Bayless Show.” “You just never know when he’s going to be available. I think that began to wear on the Lakers organization.
“So when he’s on the floor he’s to me top 10 player in the league without a doubt. I think he’s not in LA simply because he couldn’t stay on the floor.”
At the time of the trade, Davis was recovering from an abdominal injury he had suffered just days prior. In his first game with the Dallas Mavericks following the deal, he sustained an adductor strain and was forced to sit for several weeks.
While he was able to remain healthy throughout last season, various injuries cost him sizable chunks of the prior three campaigns.
But Davis is now in the past tense for the Lakers. Their task is now to build around the 26-year-old Doncic, as well as to get him to improve his fitness and conditioning in order for him to be the best player he can be and create as much longevity as possible in the years to come.