Anthony Davis went from the Los Angeles Lakers’ crown jewel to the Dallas Mavericks’ afterthought.
He was supposed to be the future. The successor to LeBron James. After all, the Lakers sent away a king’s ransom in July 2019 to pair him with the aging James to bring the title back to L.A.
The first season was awesome. Davis was everything and then some. After that, it was a roller coaster ride of almost highs and a lot of lows.
Most knew something had to change if the Lakers were going to win a championship again, they just didn’t know exactly what needed to change to make that happen.
They certainly didn’t think Davis’ time in Los Angeles would end the way it did — at midseason, an hour or two after a big Lakers win in Madison Square Garden, in the wee hours of the night.
Especially not for a 25-year-old generational talent who was a few months removed from taking his team to the NBA Finals.
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 18: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Toyota Center on March 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
Fourteen months ago, Davis was traded for Luka Doncic in a seismic trade that rattled the entire sports landscape. People didn’t even believe it was real at first.
So if it ended that way — abruptly, with Davis given no prior notice that he was even in trade talks — would either side ever entertain a reunion?
Insider Dissects Possible Anthony Davis-Lakers Reunion
At the time Davis was traded, L.A. was playing well.
The Lakers were rising in the standings, James operating as smoothly as ever, the entire rotation was coming into its own; the only downside was Davis being sidelined with injury.
Every year after winning the title in 2020, Los Angeles felt it was close but always a step or two behind a true contender. The trade deadline came and went every year with the world analyzing what the Lakers did or should’ve done. There was talk about Davis wanting to play with a true center like he did in his first season with the team. Trade ideas for another ball-handling playmaker floated on the internet.
Then everything stopped and flipped on its head. Instead of so many asking whom the franchise needed to add to support James and Davis, it suddenly became Doncic-central. Even James was suddenly made secondary.
Since being traded, Davis hasn’t nearly rediscovered the kind of production he had in L.A. He’s been hurt often — and traded again.
It has left some thinking if the Lakers could pull off some creative deal to bring Davis back to the Lakers and pair him with James and Davis.
After all, a guard-forward-center trio has historically done well in the NBA. The fit appears magical on paper.
“I don’t see it,” said Lakers reporter Jovan Buha on his podcast, according to Basket News. “I think time needs to pass for some of the wounds to heal with the situation. I think it’s still relatively fresh [since the trade happened], at least from the AD side. … Also, I think that’s a massive risk [for the Lakers] with just his injury history,” Buha added. “I mean, he has not been healthy since the trade, so looking at the contract plus the injury history, I would be pretty skeptical of that.”
The One Way Davis Could Come Back to Los Angeles
You read it earlier. The Lakers are Doncic-central. Any and everything Luka Doncic. What he says, L.A. will do.
If Doncic asked the front office to bring Davis back, it’s hard to believe the Lakers don’t at least try to swing a deal.
Davis is 33 and has a glaring injury history, but he is still immensely talented and capable of being the best big man in the league on any given night. He’d certainly check the boxes next to the playmaking of Doncic and the slashing of James.
James understands playing with Davis; they won a title together as the league’s most dominant duo. Adding the star big man probably wouldn’t require an adjustment by anyone. Doncic is a point guard and wouldn’t have to change how he plays anyway.
Davis to L.A? Perhaps not. But no one could argue it wouldn’t make sense on the court.
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