For years, the Los Angeles L<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">akers</a> have hoped <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Davis</a> would take a step up, as he’s been as impactful as inconsistent, and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> needs as much help as he can get at this point in his career.



Davis’ inconsistency has often frustrated fans, and there have even been several reports of James not being entirely satisfied with his efforts and availability — or lack thereof.



With that in mind, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> legend Charles Barkley believes it’s time LeBron finally starts holding Davis accountable and urges him to be the focal point of Darvin Ham’s team.



<h2>Davis Needs To Step Up, Says Barkley</h2>



“At some point, LeBron gonna have to say ‘A.D.– damn, I’m 100 years old. It’s about time for you to be the best player,&apos;” Barkley jokingly said. “You are in your prime.”



At the end of the day, it’s hard to deny that Anthony Davis is one of the most impactful players on Earth, which is exactly why the Lakers can’t afford to have him show up one day and not the other.


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Davis just got a huge contract extension, and while he’s paid his dues in Southern California, it somehow feels like he still needs to earn that by finally carrying LeBron’s torch and being ‘the man.’

It's time LeBron James holds Anthony Davis accountable, claims Hall of Famer

It's time LeBron James holds Anthony Davis accountable, claims Hall of Famer - Bolavip US

miniaturas

The<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Los Angeles Lakers</a> have been one of the most active teams in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA </a>offseason. Rob Pelinka made plenty of moves to help <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> pursue another championship.



Following months of rumors and speculation, they were finally able to land Christian Wood. The former Dallas Mavericks big man had been on their radar for quite a while.



And while one would think he’d be their starting center to allow <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Davis </a>to play his preferred power forward position, an ESPN report states that’s not going to be the case.



<h2>Anthony Davis Doesn’t Want To Play Center</h2>



(Via Dave McMenamin)



“Davis was slotted at center in 99% of his minutes last season, according to Cleaning the Glass data. While Davis’ performance in the middle earned him a three-year, $186 million contract extension this summer, the Lakers’ strategy with Rob Pelinka in charge of basketball operations has been to partner with their stars as stakeholders in the process.



Davis’ desire to spend more time at power forward was heard. (In addition to Wood, L.A. also signed 7-footer Jaxson Hayes.)



(…)



Wood could become a steal coming off a season in which he averaged 16.6 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 37.6% from 3 with the Dallas Mavericks. He could use the Lakers’ platform the same way Malik Monk and Schroder did in recent seasons to reestablish value and gain an even bigger role if James or Davis miss any significant time because of injuries.”


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Davis has made it loud and clear multiple times that he doesn’t like playing center, and while he’s agreed to do it for the sake of the team, you don’t have to have an unhappy superstar for long.

Lakers could have a big problem with Anthony Davis right now

Lakers could have a big problem with Anthony Davis right now - Bolavip US

The<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Los Angeles Lakers</a> just signed <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Davis</a> to a huge contract extension ahead of the upcoming <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> season. On paper, that was a no-brainer move, but some fans weren’t that excited.



As talented as Davis is, his time with the Lakers has been a rollercoaster ride. Sometimes he’s great, and sometimes, he even struggles to score in double figures.



That’s why ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith recently claimed that you simply cannot trust the former <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-orleans-pelicans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Orleans Pelicans</a> star, calling him out and criticizing his work ethic and preparation.



<h2>Lakers Can’t Trust Anthony Davis</h2>



“I don’t believe in Anthony Davis, in terms of his availability,” Smith said on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay. “Not talking about his skill set. I’m not talking about whether he cares or not. I’m talking about injury-prone, sporadic.”



“There’s something going on with him where instead of talking about me getting in the gym, you need to be talking about him getting in the gym because it’s up and down,” he continued. “It’s like this brother sat and ate a healthy meal one day and then ate a bag of Skittles the next. It’s this plummet, you know what I’m saying. I don’t understand it and I can’t have faith in that.”


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LeBron James shouldn’t be asked to carry the load at this point in his career, and that’s on Davis. Hopefully, this will be the year he finally steps up as a leader and allows James to stay fresh for the postseason.

Stephen A. Smith Puts ‘Untrustworthy’ Anthony Davis On Blast

Stephen A. Smith Puts 'Untrustworthy' Anthony Davis On Blast - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> have done a great job of putting together a deep and talented team. As great as<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> LeBron James</a> is, he cannot win an<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> NBA</a> championship on his own.



James is far beyond his prime, and while this version of himself is still better than 75% of the players in the league, but he’s not getting any younger. Even so, he recently claimed that he doesn’t get tired and can still ball out at a high level.



That’s why ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith went on record to call him a liar, stating that it’s obvious that he’s exhausted. Even so, he didn’t blame him for that, and instead challenged<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Anthony Davis</a> to help him out.



<h2>Stephen A. Smith Rips Anthony Davis Over LeBron James’ Comments</h2>



“He’s lying,” Smith said on First Take. “He has gotten tired, but that’s okay. LeBron James, of all the things that make him an extraordinary role model, the greatest thing to me is his conditioning and his commitment to being in shape. It was a travesty that this man, in his 20th season, was in better shape than most of the league last year, including his teammate Anthony Davis.”



“When I think about LeBron in shape, the first name that comes to mind is Anthony Davis,” he continued. “This man vouched for you, he put his name on the line for you, but he can’t score 40 points in one game and 11 in another.”



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">"He&apos;s lying. He has gotten tired… It was a travesty that this man, in his 20th season, was in better shape than most of the league last year, including his teammate Anthony Davis." Stephen A. Smith on LeBron James&apos; &apos;I don&apos;t get tired&apos; comment<a href="https://t.co/2YA8Optuz9">pic.twitter.com/2YA8Optuz9</a> <a href="https://t.co/cvUcPtbLsF">https://t.co/cvUcPtbLsF</a>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1696918110555562142?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>


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Smith is right on point there. No team should have to count on a 39-year-old to go the distance, and Davis has failed to be the franchise stalwart the Lakers hoped he’d be. It’s finally time he takes over.

Stephen A. Smith calls LeBron James a liar

Stephen A. Smith calls LeBron James a liar - Bolavip US

For the first time in years, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> are going into an <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> season with serious aspirations. With <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a> ready to run things back, the purple and gold seem to have reasons to believe.



Rob Pelinka finally fixed the roster at the February trade deadline, and this offseason he kept up with the good work by making more moves that put the Lakers in a position to succeed.



But of course, it’s still too soon to tell how far they can go next season. According to Charles Barkley, the Lakers will only have a chance to win if <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis">Anthony Davis</a> plays at an MVP level throughout the year.



<h2>Charles Barkley says LeBron’s Lakers depend on Anthony Davis to win</h2>



“Sometimes, when sports and the games are close, you are like, man, we are close, but the Lakers aren’t. Now, it will be interesting about all the stuff they did; as I said last season, it will all come down to Anthony Davis,” Chucky said on the Bill Simmons podcast, via Lakers Nation.



“If Anthony Davis, as much as I love LeBron, I said last season and two seasons before. The Lakers are not going anywhere if Anthony Davis is not an MVP candidate. The Lakers were lucky to have a great draw in the playoffs, but AD does not have a MVP caliber season; the Lakers are going nowhere.”



<h2>How old is Anthony Davis?</h2>



Born on March 11, 1993 in Chicago, Illinois, Anthony Davis is 30 years old.



<h2>When does Anthony Davis’ contract with Lakers expire?</h2>



Anthony Davis agreed on a three-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason, keeping him with the team through 2028.

LeBron James, Lakers success hinges on one key factor, Charles Barkley says

Charles Barkley claims LeBron James, Lakers success hinges on one key factor - Bolavip US

Charles Barkley claims LeBron James, Lakers success hinges on one key factor

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a> and the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> have gone through a lot in recent years, but good things finally seem to be on the horizon for them. The 2023-24 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> season is drawing nearer, and the expectations in LA are through the roof.



Rob Pelinka had already improved the roster in February, which ended up saving the season as the team made a surprising run to the Conference Finals. But now, the goal is to go even further.



The purple and gold made a number of moves this offseason to continue improving the roster, including giving Anthony Davis an extension. According to Kevin Garnett, the big man will prove his doubters wrong in the next two seasons.



<h2>Kevin Garnett expects Anthony Davis to be NBA MVP in 2023, 2024</h2>



“Guess what? I’m expecting Anthony Davis to be MVP in these next two years,” Garnett said, via Showtime Basketball. “It’s time bro. It’s time. You can’t let Joker [Nikola Jokic] come in the league and surpass – nah, nah, nah. Anthony Davis can do everything they can do. 



“Anthony Davis can do everything that Joker can do. He can do everything [Joel] Embiid can do. I’m expecting him to be MVP if not this year, definitely next year, straight up. And he’s going to take the reins of, ‘Yeah, I’m the best player in the league.’



AD has certainly proven what he’s capable of on the court. The problem is he struggled to stay healthy in the last few seasons. When injuries don’t catch up to him, Davis definitely has what it takes to play at an MVP level.

It's not LeBron James: Former NBA champion says Lakers star will be MVP the next two years

Not LeBron: Former NBA champion says Lakers star will be MVP the next two years - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> needed to lock up <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Davis</a> for the future<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">. LeBron James </a>won’t play forever, and he’s inching closer to retirement as the seasons go by.



Davis has been a pivotal part of the team’s success. Nonetheless, as good as he’s been when they’ve fared well, he’s also been quite unimpressive when things don’t go their way.



That’s why Stephen A. Smith doesn’t seem to agree with the contract extension he just got, citing that you need to be consistent in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> to get that kind of money.



<h2>Stephen A. Smith Criticizes Anthony Davis’ Extension</h2>



“I love AD; love him as a person and a player,” Smith started. “$62 million, though? His talent is worth it, but his consistency isn’t. He’ll show up one day and not show up the next day. He’ll drop 40 in Game 1, 11 in Game 2. I’d much rather have you average 28 night-in night-out rather than each and every night; it’s a damn rollercoaster.”



“You had Charles Barkley calling him street clothes,” continued Smith. “I never called him that; I call him Six Flags because it’s a rollercoaster ride. He’s up and down. I’ve got mad respect for his game. I know he’s one of the elite players in this game today, but the consistency is not there.”


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At the end of the day, Davis has more than enough talent and resources to prove the critics wrong. But he’ll have to work very hard to pay back that confidence the team put in him.

Insider explains why Anthony Davis didn't deserve that extension

Insider explains why Anthony Davis didn't deserve that extension - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> isn’t getting any younger, and chances are he’ll need more help as the years go by. No team in today’s<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> NBA</a> can win with at least two stars, and the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers </a>aren’t the exception to that rule.



Rob Pelinka has been adamant about giving James an elite sidekick and someone who could carry the torch once he’s long gone from the team. And he locked that sidekick up for years to come.



However, as good as<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Anthony Davis </a>obviously is as a basketball player, his character was what actually drove the team’s brass to sign him to that big contract extension.



<h2>Lakers Extended Davis Because Of His Character, Says GM</h2>



“Jeanie [Buss], Darvin [Ham] and I were just probably the most excited to just get Anthony’s perspective about what it means to do an extension like this and to become a leader of the Lakers for years to come,” Pelinka told Spectrum Sportsnet. 



“For us, in our conversations with him, it was really centered around his character, who he is as a person, how he treats his teammates. His commitment to being the hardest worker and helping establish our culture with that,” Pelinka added. “Clearly he is one of the game’s most dominant two-way players, but to see his desire to take on those leadership reigns was significant for us to have those conversations with him.”


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Hopefully, Davis will have an injury-free season, although that seems very unlikely, given his history. Also, he’ll need to be more consistent if he intends to lead this team as James keeps getting older.

The Lakers didn't extend Anthony Davis because of his play

The Lakers didn't extend Anthony Davis because of his play - Bolavip US

For the first time in years, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> have reasons to believe. Not only do they have LeBron James, but Rob Pelinka also secured contract extensions for <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/austin-reaves">Austin Reaves</a> and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis">Anthony Davis</a>.



The 25-year-old has blossomed into a key contributor for the purple and gold, having a breakout season last year. AD, meanwhile, continues to be their biggest star behind The King.



After hitting the open market, Reaves agreed on a four-year, $53 million extension with the Lakers. Davis, on the other hand, agreed on a three-year max extension worth $189m. Many people questioned this decision due to AD’s injury history, but Reaves is convinced the Lakers made the right decision.



<h2>Austin Reaves defends Lakers’ decision on Anthony Davis</h2>



“Sign it! You got to, he’s Anthony Davis,” Reaves said, via HoopsHype. “People out there doubt him sometimes, but he’s arguably one of the most skilled players in the league. He’s got incredible IQ to the game. He’s a joy to play with and a joy to be around, so as long as I can be around him for my career, the better I’ll be for it.”



After reaching the Conference Finals a few months ago, the Lakers are heading into the 2023-24 NBA season with high expectations. Reaves believes the team is in a good place ahead of the upcoming campaign.



“I feel really, really good about what we did,” he said. “You bring back the core that went to the Western Conference Finals and those pieces fit really well with what we kinda need because we lacked that last year.”


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The Lakers have made plenty of moves in free agency, landing Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish, and Jaxson Hayes. In addition, they also brought back D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura.

Austin Reaves reacts to Anthony Davis' lucrative deal with the Lakers - Bolavip US

Austin Reaves reacts to Anthony Davis' lucrative deal with the Lakers

L<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eBron James</a> needed someone who could help them get the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers </a>over the hump. Not many players could efficiently take the offensive load off his shoulders, so they pursued <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Davis.</a>



Davis was — and still is — one of the best two-way players in the game. However, as good as he is, his inconsistency and injury-proneness have kept him from becoming the Batman to LeBron’s Robin.



Nonetheless, as much as he’s failed in that regard, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka recently stated that Davis is still looking forward to being the leader of one of the most storied franchises in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA.</a>



<h2>Anthony Davis Wants To Lead The Lakers</h2>



“In our conversations with Anthony, his desire to lead our franchise for the next several years became abundantly clear,” the executive revealed. “AD understands that his commitment to being the hardest worker, combined with his high character, is what will help define our culture for many seasons to come.”



“It is a proud day for Lakers Nation when we’re able to extend the contract of one of the game’s most dominant two-way players,” concluded Pelinka.


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Davis will be one of the highest-paid players in the league, and as such, he’ll have plenty of responsibility on his shoulders, especially with LeBron James finally showing signs of aging.

Rob Pelinka reveals Anthony Davis' failed desire with the Lakers - Bolavip US

Rob Pelinka reveals Anthony Davis' failed desire with the Lakers

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> fans couldn’t have asked for a better offseason. Rob Pelinka picked up where he left off in February, bringing new faces and extending <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis">Anthony Davis</a>‘ deal ahead of the 2023-24 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> season.



The big man got tied to a three-year, $186 million max contract extension, which gives the purple and gold reasons for optimism going forward. Even if LeBron James decides to leave in the near future, AD will keep the Lakers’ hopes alive.



While his health is still a concerning topic, Davis seems to be extremely committed to doing whatever it takes to bring success back to LA. Pelinka revealed the 30-year-old showed desire to embrace a big role in the years to come before agreeing on an extension.



<h2>Rob Pelinka reveals Anthony Davis’ mindset during contract talks</h2>



“In our conversations with Anthony, his desire to lead our franchise for the next several years became abundantly clear,” Pelinka said, as quoted by ClutchPoints. “AD understands that his commitment to being the hardest worker, combined with high character, is what will help define our culture for many seasons to come. It is a proud day for Lakers Nation when we’re able to extend the contract of one of the game’s most dominant two-way players.”


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When healthy, AD has proven to be the kind of player that can give the Lakers championship aspirations. Of course, the biggest challenge for him will be to play out his contract without missing too many games.

NBA: Lakers GM sends encouraging message about Anthony Davis - Bolavip US

NBA News: Lakers GM sends encouraging message about Anthony Davis

Last season, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis">Anthony Davis</a> and the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> had an amazing run during the playoffs. Even though they were eliminated by the Denver Nuggets, the future looked promising.



That’s why Rob Pelinka and the front office made big moves to sign and extend key players: Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes,&nbsp;Austin Reaves, Taurean Prince,&nbsp;Rui Hachimura, Cam Reddish and&nbsp;D’Angelo Russell.


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Furthermore, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a> confirmed he’ll return for another season making the Lakers a contender in the West against the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/golden-state-warriors">Golden State Warriors</a>, the Nuggets and the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/phoenix-suns">Phoenix Suns</a>.



<h2>Which will be the next team of Anthony Davis?</h2>



According to a report from ESPN, Anthony Davis will get a three-year, $186 million contract extension to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers all the way until 2028.







Now, the total agreement during the next six seasons gives Davis an astounding amount of $270 million. Undoubtedly, if LeBron James is near retirement, Davis is the future leader of the franchise. 


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Furthermore, the contract extension is the biggest per year in NBA history with a spectacular average of $62 million for each of the upcoming seasons. Though Anthony Davis had two years on his previous contract, general manager Rob Pelinka didn’t take any chances to lock his star.

Anthony Davis: How much money he'll get with Lakers?

NBA News: LeBron James got massive help from Lakers during free agency

LeBron James confirms on Instagram the next team he\&#039;ll play for in the 2023 season

Anthony Davis: How much money he'll get with Lakers? - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers </a>went to great lengths to pair <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Davis </a>with <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a>, and it paid off right away. Still, he hasn’t lived up to the hype as a potential alpha dog on the team.



Even so, Davis has been arguably the most important piece for the purple and gold since he arrived in Southern California. The team will go as far as he can lead them on both ends of the floor.



With that in mind, and despite all the inconsistency and how often he misses game, the Lakers are looking forward to signing him to an extension before the start of the upcoming <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> season.



<h2>Lakers Will Give Davis An Extension Soon</h2>



“Ultimately, making Davis happy is something the Lakers want to continue to do as they see him as a cornerstone of this franchise presently and in the future,” reported Corey Hansford of Lakers Nation. “As it stands, Davis has an early termination option on his contract after this season, meaning he could be a free agent next summer, but expectations are that he won’t be going anywhere.”



“Recent reports suggest that the Lakers view Davis as someone who has represented the franchise extremely well since coming over and want him around moving forward, so expectations are that the two sides will agree to a contract extension before training camp begins,“ added Hansford.


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Davis has earned the right to get paid, and the Lakers won’t risk losing him without getting anything in return, so this was a no-brainer move, even if they have to overpay for his services.

This is where the Lakers stand on Anthony Davis' contract extension - Bolavip US

This is where the Lakers stand on Anthony Davis' contract extension

When the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> traded for <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Davis,</a> they hoped he’d end up being the best player on the team, even ahead of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a>. And while he’s been their most-defining factor, he has left some to be desired.



Davis’ inconsistency and injury-proneness have stood in the way more often than not. And as great a player as he is, that might have also taken somewhat of a toll on his reputation.



Nevertheless, Davis’ impact on the team is so big that it goes way beyond the stat sheet. According to rising <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> star Austin Reaves, his sole presence there allows everybody to gamble and be more aggressive on the defensive end of the floor.



<h2>Austin Reaves’ Explains How Anthony Davis Impacts The Lakers’ Defense</h2>



“He’s obviously a good person to have on your team, especially defensively,” Reaves said on All The Smoke. “I don’t think he gets enough credit for what he does for us as guards.”



“Knowing you have him as a rim protector, you can be more physical, more aggressive, you can kind of shoot passing lanes and know if they get in the paint then it’s going to be tough to get two anyways,” added Reaves. “He’s arguably right behind Bron as the most skilled player I’ve ever seen. Just his height, the way he moves, he can handle the ball, he can shoot it. There’s really nothing he can’t do.”


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Davis is a future Hall of Famer and one of the greatest players of all time. Hopefully, this will be the year he finally takes the torch from LeBron and establishes himself as the undisputed alpha dog in Los Angeles.

Lakers have set a date for Anthony Davis\&#039; contract extension

NBA Rumors: LeBron James\&#039; Lakers and Stephen Curry\&#039;s Warriors target the same free agent

Austin Reaves reveals Anthony Davis' true impact on the Lakers - Bolavip US

Austin Reaves reveals Anthony Davis' true impact on the Lakers

The<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Los Angeles Lakers </a>hoped that <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Davis</a> would step up and be their leader, with <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> being more of a Robin than a Batman. Needless to say, that hasn’t been the case thus far.



Even so, the Lakers are reportedly on the verge of signing him to a contract extension. They’re still committed to him and plan to shut down all speculation about his future.



With that in mind, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin and Zach Lowe revealed that Darvin Ham could look to keep the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> champion healthier and happier by pairing him with Jaxson Hayes in the starting lineup.



<h2>Lakers Want Jaxson Hayes Next To Anthony Davis</h2>



(via Lakers Nation)



“Anthony Davis has been pounding the drum ever since he got to L.A. that he doesn’t like to max out his minutes at the 5. His body takes a beating, he likes having a big next to him for rim protection purposes, etc. etc. etc. They won the championship with big bodies in JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard. The team not only listened to him with the acquisition of Jaxson Hayes but made sure it was known that they listened to him in the comments made by Darvin Ham and Rob Pelinka to various reporters and various outlets, myself included, that this was wanting to replicate kind of the lineup they had in 2020 in order to appease Anthony Davis and make him feel good.



So there is a chance that with their re-upped committal to him with an extension this summer that it includes him saying ‘I want to see that other lineup again.’ So you could very well see Jaxson Hayes, AD, and then I think if you go there, it’s LeBron at the 3, Austin at the 2 and probably DLo. But I think Gabe Vincent will get a chance at some point this year, and they got really good depth… It would not shock me if we saw Jaxson Hayes as the starting center to open up the season to see how that looks, but that doesn’t mean that you’re not gonna see Anthony Davis playing center to in the fourth quarter. That’s winning time.”


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Davis will once again be the most important piece of their roster next season, and having a more traditional center next to him might help to keep him healthy once and for all.

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Lakers could shake up their lineup to help Anthony Davis - Bolavip US

Lakers could shake up their lineup to help Anthony Davis

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