The Lakers’ June 2019 trade for Anthony Davis, a deal that paired him with fellow superstar LeBron James, was a resounding success almost immediately. Even though it took nearly an entire calendar year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the purple and gold won their 17th title in franchise history at the conclusion of that campaign, with Davis playing a crucial role both in the regular season, and in the NBA Bubble after the pandemic-caused pause to the season.
Since then, however, it’s been a rough go for both the team and its two best players. Both James and Davis missed large chunks of the 2020-21 season due to injury, dropping L.