Anthony Davis is a beloved figure in the history of the Los Angeles Lakers. The former star big man of this team forced his way out of New Orleans to join LeBron James in Los Angeles for a duo that would lead the effort of banner 17 being raised to the rafters. Things were not always that perfect, though.
There were always two major reasons why having Davis as a part of the Lakers was frustrating. The first of those was, of course, the issues with injuries. The untimely ailments hurt several campaigns, including a chance to repeat as champions in 2021.
The other was Davis’ insistence on playing the four, and not the five. Yes, Los Angeles did win a championship with the Lakers big man supported by a strong crop of centers. However, it felt like Davis never offered the team a proper opportunity to evolve their approach by insisting on going back to what worked once.
Both of these things are something Dallas Mavericks writer Jared A’Latorre has been forced to confront of late. It is a brutal realization that Lakers fans already know all too well.
A’Latorre wrote, “The Achilles heel is, and will always be, Davis’ injuries. And they might be too serious and happen too often to overcome when the front office thinks about keeping him. He also dreams of playing the four, but the truth is, he’s best suited at the five.”
Mavericks will be forced to move on from Davis just like the Lakers were
Davis has undoubtedly heard his name pop up in the rumor mill a ton ever since Nico Harrison was let go. Trading him away is a move that would serve both the star big man and the Mavericks best.
The problem here is the sudden hesitation that may come with that decision.
The Mavericks have suddenly won four of their last five games. After uncovering a hidden gem in Ryan Nembhard, Dallas has been able to fixate on creating more of an offensive identity.
With the bottom of the Western Conference being incredibly lackluster, the surging Mavericks are now just half a game back of a Play-In spot. Perhaps that offers some incentive for Dallas to continue with what they have, especially since Kyrie Irving’s return will happen at some point this season.
In keeping Davis, the Mavericks would continue to wrestle with the familiar issues that his teams have endured. The Lakers thought it was best to move on when the (lopsided) opportunity arrived. Even with the recent shift, that may still be the path Dallas inevitably walks too.