Lakers’ Current Stance On Trading Anthony Davis To Suns For Kevin Durant

The Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns both finished the 2023-24 NBA season with disappointing flameouts in the first round of the playoffs.

Because of that, over the last couple of weeks, speculation has run rampant regarding what big moves each team can make in order to improve their rosters.

One popular rumor that has begun to make the rounds in recent days has centered around L.A. and Phoenix making some sort of trade involving Kevin Durant. The talk has gotten so serious, in fact, that ESPN’s Brian Windhorst even broke down what the Lakers would be forced to give up in that trade.

The Lakers’ best possible trade for Durant is also a matter of public record at this point.

Essentially, the only path for getting Durant to Los Angeles involves the Lakers parting ways with Anthony Davis. And according to Windhorst, that simply isn’t something the organization is interested in at the moment.

“The only functional trade that works, because the Suns are locked in, is Anthony Davis… but the Lakers say no,” Windhorst said. “Conversation over.”

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So what does that mean? It means the Lakers will likely need to fall back on a Plan B-type trade. They are one of two teams in the hunt for Darius Garland of the Cleveland Cavaliers and one of two teams who have already prepared an offer for Donovan Mitchell.

There has also been chatter about them getting DeMar DeRozan.

How will the Lakers ultimately opt to upgrade their roster this summer? Time will tell, but Durant doesn’t appear to be a viable option at the moment.