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Los Angeles Lakers: Why Anthony Davis is the only option this summer

By Jason Reed

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 07: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on against the Memphis Grizzlies at Smoothie King Center on January 07, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 07: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on against the Memphis Grizzlies at Smoothie King Center on January 07, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

4. These other players are not suitable options

DeMarcus Cousins is the most notable name of those remaining that got thrown into this slideshow but it still remains that he is not enough to make the Lakers legitimate title contenders.

He has not been as good as he could be in his limited time in Golden State and didn’t really have a huge impact on the New Orleans Pelicans when he was traded there.

Cousins is going to ask for somewhat significant money and if he doesn’t get it he might as well just sign another one-year deal for slightly more to stay in Golden State and contend. The Lakers already passed on Cousins once, I don’t see them pursuing him.

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Khris Middleton is an all-star this season, I will give him that, but he is not good enough to be the second-best player on a title-contending team.

Yes, he is the second-best player on the Milwaukee Bucks, who are in first place with a 42-14 record in the Eastern Conference.

However, I still don’t see the Bucks getting past the Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors or even the Boston Celtics in the NBA Playoffs. Some might call me crazy, return to this article when it happens.

And even if they do, they stand no match against the Golden State Warriors.

Nikola Vucevic is also an all-star for the first time this season but would not be enough to put the Lakers over the hump. It would be very reminiscent to the Lakers getting Pau Gasol for Kobe Bryant but Kobe did not have to go through the same super teams the NBA is fielding today.

Golden State, Philadelphia and arguably this Celtics team is better than the Boston big three, who Kobe lost to once and then beat an older version of. Vucevic simply isn’t enough right now. If he was, the Lakers would have made a trade for him at the deadline.

I mean, c’mon. Do we really have to explain this one? Vucevic is better than DeAndre Jordan in 2019.

Harris has emerged into a great player this season but is still an all-star reserve at best and would leave the Los Angeles Lakers in a very similar situation as the team would be with Middleton. I would rather let Brandon Ingram try to evolve into a player of Harris’ level rather than overpay for Harris.

Next. Who is sitting on LA's hottest seat?. dark

The last one on this list: Kemba Walker. I actually really enjoy the idea of seeing Walker and LeBron share the court but I still don’t think it would be enough. Walker is having an incredible year and is going to get a nice payday from some team that simply is not worth it for the Los Angeles Lakers.

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