As the Los Angeles Lakers continue to search for answers amid a stretch of defensive lapses and mounting losses, a familiar name has made its way back into the NBA rumor mill: Anthony Davis.
Yes, that Anthony Davis - the eight-time All-Star currently suiting up for the Dallas Mavericks. On a recent episode of The Hoop Collective, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon floated the idea of the Lakers making a call to Dallas to explore a possible reunion with the defensive anchor who helped them win the 2020 NBA title. It was a bold suggestion, and one that underscores just how desperate things have gotten in Lakerland on the defensive end.
“I’ve got a solution for them,” MacMahon said. “They can trade for a perennial All-Defensive big man… Hey, we want AD back.”
The idea wasn’t without immediate pushback. Brian Windhorst chimed in with a timely reminder: “He got hurt today.”
Indeed, Davis exited Dallas’ Christmas Day matchup against the Golden State Warriors with a right groin strain after just 11 minutes on the floor. He finished with three points, two blocks, and a steal on 1-of-4 shooting before heading to the locker room. Yet even with the injury concerns - which have followed Davis throughout much of his career - the conversation quickly pivoted back to his potential fit in Los Angeles again, especially given the team’s current defensive issues.
Let’s be clear: when healthy, Davis is still one of the most impactful two-way bigs in the league. Through 16 games this season, he’s averaging 20.5 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.3 steals per game.
He’s shooting 52.1% from the field and a respectable 32.3% from deep, all while logging just under 30 minutes per night. Those are the kind of numbers that remind you why teams are willing to live with the injury risks - because when he’s on the court, he changes the game on both ends.
And right now, the Lakers could use that kind of game-changer.
Over their last 10 outings, Los Angeles has allowed 121.4 points per game - a mark that ranks 24th in the league during that stretch. Defensive rotations have looked sluggish, rim protection has been inconsistent, and the effort level has dipped noticeably at times.
Head coach JJ Redick has made it a point to emphasize accountability and hustle, but the results haven’t followed. The Lakers have dropped three straight, including a 119-96 blowout loss to the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day.
That loss dropped them deeper into a frustrating stretch, and the timing couldn’t be worse. They’re in the middle of a five-game homestand, with the next opportunity to right the ship coming Sunday night against the Sacramento Kings. At 7-23, Sacramento might be struggling, but no win is a given for this Lakers squad right now.
As for Dallas, they’ve got their own issues to sort through. Sitting at 12-20, the Mavericks have been up and down all season. Roster turnover and injuries have made it tough to find rhythm, and now they’ll have to navigate a three-game road trip starting with - you guessed it - the Kings on Saturday evening.
The trade scenario MacMahon proposed is purely hypothetical at this point, but it speaks volumes about where both franchises currently stand. For the Lakers, bringing Davis back would be about more than nostalgia - it would be about trying to stabilize a defense that’s leaking points and lacks a true interior presence. For the Mavericks, any move involving Davis would be seismic, signaling a potential shift in direction as the trade deadline looms.
Of course, there’s plenty of history to consider. Davis’ previous stint in L.A. was marked by elite production, but also by frequent injuries and a long-standing reluctance to play full-time at center - something Windhorst was quick to point out. “Just don’t have him play center,” he quipped, referencing the positional tug-of-war that often accompanied Davis’ time in purple and gold.
But with the Lakers’ backs against the wall and the defense teetering, positional preferences might take a backseat to necessity. If Davis becomes available - and that’s still a big if - the Lakers would have to weigh the risk of injury against the upside of adding one of the league’s premier defensive anchors.
In a season that’s already been filled with questions for both franchises, this idea adds another layer of intrigue. Whether it’s just talk or something more, one thing is clear: the Lakers need answers, and fast. And if those answers involve a familiar face, well, stranger things have happened in the NBA.