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As expected, the Los Angeles Lakers are back at the top of the pecking order following their blockbuster acquisition of Anthony Davis last summer. The Davis and LeBron James tandem gave the purple and gold another formidable one-two punch not seen since the glorious Shaq-and-Kobe days.
While the team is certainly among the favorites to win it all this year, there’s still a dark cloud above their heads in terms of Davis’ contract situation.
Davis is expected to become an unrestricted free agent this summer after declining a four-year, $146 million contract extension from the Lakers last January.
Both fans and pundits alike consider Davis’ move as a mere formality, since he will be eligible for a bigger offer from L.A. worth somewhere around $202 million for five years if he opts out.
Also, Davis and James are represented by Rich Paul’s Klutch Sports, which makes it highly unlikely that the two will split up out of the blue.
But despite these assurances, it's still hard to shake off the feeling of uncertainty.
As much as we would love to buy in on the idea that Davis is the franchise’s next great big, there’s still a real possibility that he might walk away and leave Lakers Nation hanging.
For one, he doesn’t owe the franchise anything. Plus, he will definitely receive numerous enticing offers from other big-market teams looking to claim his services.
Obviously, one key to making Davis stay in Los Angeles lies greatly upon the resumption of the season on July 30 at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
While there will be a lot of intangibles in play, here are the three defining factors for the Lakers to keep Davis.
Win the title
For a team built the way the Lakers are right now, it’s clearly a championship-or-bust year. While there’s still a debate whether or not the Larry O’Brien Trophy will make Davis stay, giving him a taste of the championship life certainly wouldn't hurt their chances.
Every superstar in the league wants a chance to build a dynasty, and that is the Lakers’ biggest draw at the moment — that is if they actually get it done this year.
It certainly won’t be easy, considering the level of competition that they have to face. The Lakers proved in the regular season that they can hang with fellow top contenders the Clippers and the Bucks, but the postseason is indeed a completely different animal.
It is also worth noting that Davis has yet to get past the second round in his career, putting him in unfamiliar territory if the Lakers do go far. Davis will also likely think about James' age before signing to a long-term commitment in L.A.
While The King hasn’t shown signs of slowing down anytime soon, it remains unclear how long his 35-year-old body can keep playing at the highest level.
Keep feeding him the ball
A surefire way of making a superstar re-sign is to keep him as happy and comfortable as possible. The Lakers have certainly done that with Davis, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. While James still handles the rock on most possessions, the team builds its offense around Davis, especially in half-court sets.
In 55 games so far, Davis has excellent numbers of 26.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.4 blocks per game. James still gets the nod for the MVP based on merit, but Davis is on track to potentially win his first-ever DPOY honors.
Barring any sudden adjustments, Davis should continue to be the team’s focal point on both ends of the floor once the season resumes. The Lakers are clearly still LeBron’s team at the moment. But Davis, for sure, is the heir apparent if he makes that commitment.
Keep adding talent
Superstars stay in the long run when they feel that their franchise makes a never-ending commitment of improving the team each year.
The Lakers embraced their massive roster overhaul over the summer and kept adding suitable pieces as the season progressed. The signing of Dion Waiters may not be considered game-changing, but it's a sign of the team’s eagerness to improve every chance they get.
The team also has an opportunity to bring back DeMarcus Cousins after his successful rehab from an Achilles injury. Given Boogie’s relationship with Davis during their Pelicans days, this should be a no-brainer signing for L.A.
Considering Dwight Howard’s status for the “bubble” season, the Lakers would be in Davis’ good graces if they can get another capable big to ease his load.
