‘Lakers to pursue Giannis’: Anthony Davis stalling on contract talks to get LeBron James a superteam

According to Brian Windhorst, Anthony Davis is stalling on contract offers from the Lakers to accomodate Giannis.

Brian Windhorst believes that LeBron James and Anthony Davis will try recruiting Giannis to the Lakers next offseason. The Greek Freak is now a back-to-back MVP. He became only the third player in league history to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.

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Windhorst suspects AD is taking his time to decide what contract he chooses is because of Giannis. If Giannis doesn’t sign supermax he thinks AD will sign a 1+1, both him and Lebron will opt out next offseason and recruit Giannis to the Lakers

— Ralph Mason (@Ralph_MasonJr) November 23, 2020

These reports are based on the fact that Davis and Adebayo are yet to agree on contract offers from their teams.

What is the likelihood of Giannis signing with the Lakers?

Both LeBron and Anthony Davis will be willing to opt out of their contracts next offseason in order to recruit Giannis to the Lakers. James has a player option worth $41 million that he would pass on.

Giannis moving to the Los Angeles Lakers after the 2020-21 season would be the ultimate villain move. The Lakers look primed to make another championship run. This would indeed be the worst case of ‘Can’t beat em, join em’ in the history of the NBA.

The amount of flak Giannis would be liable to receive from fans would dwarf any hate LeBron or Kevin Durant got when they moved from their teams. This move would, plainly put, be a PR nightmare.

But it would also ensure that the Lakers are well-positioned to win multiple championships in the future. LeBron feeding Anthony Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the pick-and-roll is the nightmare of every defensive scheme, when you have 2 other shooter spacing the floor.

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Giannis has repeatedly stated in the past that winning will be paramount to him. But unlike Anthony Davis, who openly angled for a move from the Pelicans, the Greek Freak is still betting on his Bucks. Giannis was recruiting AD when he was disgruntled by the Pelicans. The shoe might be on the other foot right now.

Right now, the Heat and the Lakers are both long shots to sign Giannis next season, as things stand.