AD=Laker=Ring?

Anthony Davis is finally headed to LA, but what else needs to be on Los Angeles’ checklist?

In the end, it only took Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, 4 first-round picks and 2 Laker pick-swaps to convince David Griffin to let Anthony Davis realize his Hollywood dream. A decent haul for the Pelicans no doubt, but LA and Lebron won’t care. They got what they wanted. Lebron got his co-star, and after AD waived away $4m, the Lakers now have the cap space to add a third superstar. But do they need to?

LA have been living in dreamland the past two weeks; the AD trade finally being pushed over the line has had a real domino effect. While the injuries to Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson were heartbreaking for any NBA fan, they did however open a very large window for the 2019/20 NBA season. That title is there for the taking. The Davis trade comes in, he waives his trade kicker and clear cap space, and then news breaks that the Lakers will have meetings with Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, and most importantly, finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. Lebron and the Lakers are a good sales pitch away from creating the next super-team, and compiling a team that on paper, should cruise to the finals.

But is this really the smartest move for them? Moving for one of these three stars will predictably leave LA with little money leftover, most likely leaving them with a below-par bench. Irving is a star, and has shown he can deliver on the highest stage. But the show he put on last season should advise the Lakers to tread carefully. There’s no questioning Butler’s game, but he is definitely capable of disrupting a locker-room, something no championship team needs. Kawhi is an exception to these facts, but also comes with the same danger as any other NBA player. Injury. Injuries happen, and with one the three stars go down ( or even two of them, as we saw with Golden State ), it can leave a team extremely short-handed. With Lebron, AD, and the decent threat of Kyle Kuzma, I’m not sure they need to stack so heavily. They need depth.

So if the Lakers do opt for depth, what could this look like? One name that has gotten plenty of attention as a potential fit is Patrick Beverley, who becomes a free agent after an impressive year with the Clippers. Personally, I love this fit. Every championship team needs that toughness, that Draymond Green mould, and few players epitomize this grit more than Beverley. With Lebron on the floor, a team doesn’t necessarily ‘need’ a creative, pass first point guard, given James’ tendency to bring the ball up. Beverley would bring a defensive presence, and even a solid shooting threat, as he is 38% from downtown in his career, and shot 43% this past postseason.

Beverley would represent a ‘middle-of-the-pack’ signing for the Lakers; a slightly more expensive player would be Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon. After winning ROY in 2017, Brogdon averaged 15 PPG last season in Milwaukee, whilst also shooting 43% from three point range. He can offer quality guard play by creating his own shot, offers decent size and most importantly, can space the floor. It would take a significant offer from the Lakers for the Bucks not to match, but if he is available at a decent price, Brogdon really is the perfect fit here.

My last ( somewhat serious ) player for the Lakers to pursue is Seth Curry, who’s value has shot up after an impressive season in Portland. The Trail Blazers finally got something going in the postseason, as Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum dragged them to their first WCF appearance since 2001. While Portland’s starting backcourt clearly did the heavy lifting, Curry had some big moments, and shot consistently well throughout the season. A sniper from three-point range, Curry represents the best shooting option at a low price. He is not available at the minimum anymore, but would be significantly cheaper than Beverley or Brogdon, and has shown he can do the business come playoff time. Portland won’t have the cap space to sign back all of their free agents, and Curry is likely to miss out on a return to the Blazers, as they look set on Rodney Hood instead. Curry would be a valuable threat off the bench in LA, and one they must seriously consider.

I said I was done with somewhat serious suggestions. That leaves me with two players, and the word ‘somewhat’ applies to JR Smith here. Obviously, JR forgetting the score at the end of Game 1 of the 2018 Finals is still fresh in everyone’s memory, and most likely Lebron’s too. But, if the Lakers really want shooting, and don’t have ‘that’ much money to work with, I really don’t think it’s that terrible of an idea. Lebron would keep him in check, he’s been on championship teams before and, although he may be a little past it, the man can shoot. I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if we saw JR repping purple and gold come November.

The Lakers have got a real look-in here, and they must be smart with how they build this roster. Lebron’s window isn’t huge, and the Golden State injuries have put an even greater emphasis on the Lakers to win now. If Lebron and AD stay healthy, and the bench has depth and shooting, I’d settle on the fact that it’s the Lakers championship to lose, come June 2020.