"Trade that motherf***er if he ain't gonna be out there" - Lamar Odom believes Kobe Bryant would have wanted to trade Anthony Davis because he's injury prone
Lamar Odom reckons Kobe Bryant would have wanted to trade Anthony Davis, as he's injury prone. Davis has missed 87 regular season games since joining the LA Lakers. His goal this season is to play in all 82 for the first time in his career.
On the first episode of "The Lakers All Day Everyday Show" podcast, Odom joined in to discuss the slow start of the Lakers. He also talked about Davis' durability, and how the "Black Mamba" would have reacted to it if they were teammates.
"I think they need to make a trade that probably most people probably wouldn’t agree with," Odom said. "I think they would have to trade Anthony Davis. No disrespect to Anthony Davis, he's one of my favorite players. ... The last two years Anthony Davis played, I don't know if he played 82 games."
He continued:
"I know Kobe Bryant would say, 'Yo, trade that motherf***er if he ain't gonna be out there.' That's what he will say."
Anthony Davis is one of the most talented players in NBA history. He's also one of the most injury prone players of his generation. He could have been an MVP and Defensive Player of the Year winner if he had healthy campaigns.
Davis showed his potential during the bubble when he helped the LA Lakers win the 2020 NBA championship. However, he has been unable to stay healthy consistently since winning his first title.
He has missed half the season in the past two years. His shooting outside the paint has also taken a hit, but Davis remains an impactful player when healthy. Three games into the new season, the 29-year-old big man is already nursing a back injury.
Will LA Lakers trade Anthony Davis?
The LA Lakers are off to a tough start at 0-3, and their shooting woes are part of their problem. The Lakers are in no position to start tanking, as the New Orleans Pelicans have a pick swap for next year's draft. The deal was part of the trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Lakers.
Considering the struggles the Lakers are facing, will they try to trade Davis this season? Dave McMemanin of ESPN reported earlier this month that Lakers officials are unhappy with Davis' progress. They expected him to become the best player on the team after winning the 2020 championship.
LeBron James remains the best player in the Lakers, with Davis the second option. Despite his injury history, Davis still holds value via trade. However, the Lakers are likely not recouping the assets they had to give up in 2019. He's three years older and has more injuries than before.
The Lakers have no other choice but to remain competitive. Russell Westbrook is their main trade chip, as well as two future unprotected first-round picks. As there's an expected tank-a-thon this season, the Lakers could wait for the best deal for Westbrook and the two picks.