The Los Angeles Lakers are locked into a steep uphill battle against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the discussion over the potential for major future transactions doesn’t rest with this franchise.
The Lakers were thoroughly handled by the Thunder in Tuesday’s Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. Apparently the loss has a former Laker on fans’ minds.
In a question and answer session in a YouTube live stream, Lakers insider Jovan Buha was asked about the possibility of Anthony Davis returning to Los Angeles.
The 33-year-old Davis was traded from the Lakers 15 months ago and is now stuck on the rebuilding Washington Wizards.
“Theoretically, yes,” Buha said, asked about the potential of Davis’ return to L.A, “but he’s making so much money … he’s making $62.8 million next year. It is so hard to match that.”
Outlining how the Lakers could carve a path to a reunion with Davis, Buha said, “Could you do something like an Austin [Reaves] sign-and-trade and then create more cap space and absorb AD into that cap space? Technically, yes. … You might basically be trading out Austin and Rui [Hachimura] and potentially even Marcus [Smart] depending on how you can finagle the cap space.”
Buha Says Trade for Star Big Man Works But Depth Suffers
A reunion with Davis would no doubt make the Lakers more formidable with Luka Doncic running the point guard, LeBron James acting as a prototypical small forward and Davis manning the interior.
GettyLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) react with Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) after Doncic scored the game winning basket in overtime against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on March 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
But Buha warns making a move for Davis could come at the expense of multiple key pieces.
“You have Luka, AD and LeBron … if adding AD is costing you Austin, Rui and 1-2 other rotation guys, probably cost you [DeAndre Ayton] too, it gets tough from a roster building perspective, I think, to build a coherent rotation and have proper depth.”
James and Doncic have clearly shown they can operate efficiently in tandem. It took some time to gel, even well into this season, but as the year went on, Doncic returned to form as a dominant scorer while James found his stride playing a role much different than what he was previously accustomed to.
Davis is older and has an injury history, which the Lakers know all too well about, but he’s still a gifted two-way big man who would make a great addition next to a dominant table-setter like Doncic.
Enough of the Ayton Experiment?
If the Lakers land Davis, it would likely mean cutting ties with Ayton.
Ayton, 27, was signed in free agency last summer. The Lakers’ vision was to add a potent rim-runner alongside Doncic, who expressed desire to the Lakers to play with a lob-threat big man.
Ayton hasn’t entirely fit that bill this season. He has highs and lows. After a rather inconsistent regular season, Ayton grew his stock in the Lakers’ first round victory over the Houston Rockets. He averaged a nearly 12-point, 11-rebound double-double. In the close out Game 6, the 27-year-old big man feasted with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Facing the Thunder in the second round, the Lakers need Ayton to be what he was in round one but even better.
As for Davis, the Lakers could visit a potential trade scenario in the offseason.
Anthony Davis Back to Lakers? Insider Details Trade Idea Involving Austin Reaves