Los Angeles Lakers: 3 ways the Anthony Davis trade has changed the franchise

Three ways Anthony Davis has changed the Los Angeles Lakers

When, or if, the NBA decides to resume the 2019-20 season, the Los Angeles Lakers will be considered one of the heavy favorites to win the championship. One year after the Anthony Davis trade, there’s no question that it has greatly impacted the course of the franchise.

A year ago, the Lakers completed a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans centered around Anthony Davis, finally acquiring a second superstar to stick next to LeBron James.

Officially, the Lakers sent Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and multiple first-round picks and swaps in exchange for Anthony Davis. One year later, the Pelicans weren’t exactly a playoff team but were well on their way to potentially making noise towards the final few weeks of the season.

Had their No. 1 overall pick from the 2019 NBA Draft, Zion Williamson, been healthy for the entire season, though, you can make the case that the Pelicans would’ve been a shoo-in to make the playoffs in the Western Conference.

The Lakers were the top seed in the West and just two games back of the Milwaukee Bucks for the top seed overall. How exactly has it changed the course of events for the Los Angeles Lakers?