The Los Angeles Lakers made a simple deal and traded Anthony Davis for Lukadon Sic, but removing the center was a good thing despite a massive return.
When the Los Angeles Lakers traded one of the world’s best players, Anthony Davis, for the Dallas Mavericks, the returns must be enormous to justify such a deal. By adding Luka Doncic to the fold, the Lakers were looking at some of the title candidates without the big man in the franchise, and were clearly the winners of historic trade.
Along with Donsic, the Lakers are up in the rankings, finishing second in the Western Conference before LeBron James was injured. Once he returns, his trio, Don Sic and Austin Reeves are expected to take the NBA by storm.
Adding Donsic was clearly a massive victory for the Lakers, but so far, kicking Davis out of James’ path seemed like an addition to this deal and an overlooked profit.
“I felt Anthony Davis was LeBron’s way,” Marcus Morris insisted. Yahoo! Sports A podcast earlier this week. “Because LeBron is really four, that’s the position that Anthony Davis wanted to play. He was always on the box. He really wasn’t really stretching the three out.”
Takes usually come across criticism, which denounces top players, but agreed by Stephen A. Smith, one of the most famous figures in the sports world.
While Stephen A. Smith doesn’t hamper his criticism, especially about LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, he would easily admit that Don Sic’s deal brings out James’ best.
In 11 games James and Don Sic played together, the Lakers went 8-3, looking exactly as advertised, and saw some of the best duos in the league.
“I think it was a great analysis on Marcus Morris’ part,” praised ESPN’s Smith.
“Luka Doncic can come to our team and get attention from the defense, free the others and shoot for three seconds.
“And one of those people is going to include LeBron James, who is essentially your wideout because he can manipulate more in the open space. He’s either 6-9, 260 or he’s got out so he’s improved on his 3-point shot so he can play bully ball whenever he wants.
“And by the way, he has a three-point shot that’s not as contested as ever in the Lakers uniform.”
The Lakers were still a good team when Davis was playing, but James played multiple offensive roles, while Davis was extremely talented, but one-dimensional.
There’s no doubt that James will benefit a lot from playing next to Don Sic, but while he doesn’t have to do that much on the offensive end, it can be easily argued that Don Sic will have that effect on anyone in the NBA.
“In this conversation, the ads are sluggish in ways I don’t know what I love,” retorted Monica McNutt. “Look, Luka Donsic is better, I’ll give it to you. No. 4 LeBron James is great, it’s great, we love it.”
James can slot in a more natural position, but any star can raise the game by focusing on their strengths. Since his time at the Miami Heat, he has not been able to run a Coast thanks to the domination of his teammates.
“Luca’s talent is exactly what this team needs, but there are probably 29 other teams in the league that say the same thing,” McNutt continued. “Luka Donsic is that type of talent. He’s going to open it up for the people he plays with.”
Of course, perhaps no one in the league has the drive or IQ that quickly absorbs superstars in his team, just like LeBron James. We ended the conversation by watching Don Sic and James play together in the postseason or at least 11 games.