Anthony Davis' future with the Washington Wizards is up in the air, and rumblings around the league have already suggested that if the big man is moved, a reunion with the Los Angeles Lakers could be a move to watch.
General manager Will Dawkins would have a hard time justifying a move to offload Davis, especially considering the draft capital it took to land the two-way star ahead of the trade deadline, but if the future Hall of Famer is adament about contending for a championship, Washington's hands may be tied.
Fortunately, after watching the behind-the-scenes magic from Dawkins and President of Monumental Basketball, Michael Winger, to rebuild the Wizards' roster over the last couple of seasons, it's fair to say the team's front office executives have earned the trust of the fanbase.
All that to say, if Davis is moved this offseason, Washington could use the big man to land a dream target in Austin Reaves.
Wizards could land Austin Reaves in sign-and-trade
The tricky part of this whole scenario isn't even the financial complications of any deal, considering the Lakers' hard cap issue, but instead, it's persuading a rising talent like Reaves to leave a situation in Los Angeles to join a current lottery team.
Coming off a career year, averaging 23.3 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds on 49% shooting from field goal range and 36.0% from beyond the arc, the 27-year-old has proven to be a reliable threat offensively alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
Reaves coming to Washington would immediately give him the chance to be a top-scoring option alongside Trae Young, but even if the Wizards were willing to pay him the monster payday he's seeking, would it be enough to help him buy into what the team is building?
Not to mention, the Wizards' dream to land Reaves existed pre-Tre Johnson, and that's not even discussing the possibility that the team lands a top backcourt weapon in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Still, if the dream is alive and well, AD could be an avenue to get a deal done.
For the Lakers, they could pour salt in the wound that Nico Harrison left the Dallas Mavericks.
Lakers could pair AD with Luka Doncic
The Lakers had to pull the trigger on a Doncic-Davis swap when they had the opportunity; it was a no-brainer for Los Angeles to trade an aging star for a generational talent entering his prime.
However, even Los Angeles probably never thought there would be a scenario to bring AD back to LA just a couple of years after the blockbuster trade.
If Davis is legitimately against being in Washington, the Lakers could do the unthinkable by forming a trio of Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis and LeBron James (assuming the team manages to re-sign the forward).
Giving up a 27-year-old star in Reaves is a steep price, but having multiple players from the NBA 75th Anniversary team is a rare opportunity.
And while the CBA guidelines may make things challenging, it's become clear that teams will find a way to make a deal work if they're determined enough.
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