Lakers Did Not Give LeBron James 'Significant Notice' They Were Trading Anthony Davis

LeBron James seems to have a lot of influence on the decisions the Los Angeles Lakers make. But the four-time NBA champion was apparently blindsided when the Lakers traded his longtime All-Star L.A. running mate, Anthony Davis, to the Dallas Mavericks in February.

According to Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst of ESPN, the Lakers reportedly did not give James “significant notice" about the trade involving Davis for five-time All-NBA First Team guard Luka Doncic, six years Davis' junior and already a better player.

James has since forgiven the organization for its secretive decision, as he understands the significance of acquiring a player like Doncic and why the Lakers would need to keep it a secret for as long as possible.

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Since Doncic has arrived in Los Angeles, it seems he has started to have more influence on the Lakers’ decisions than James. The franchise has made it apparent they want to build around the young star and are not prioritizing James’ goal of winning an NBA championship this season.

Doncic’s influence on the Lakers’ decision-making was made clear when they targeted former Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams. Doncic reportedly selected Williams out of a list of potential trade options as a center he would want to play with.

Los Angeles went on to offer rookie guard Dalton Knecht, veteran forward Cam Reddish, an unprotected 2031 first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap to the Hornets. And Charlotte accepted.

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The Lakers ultimately rescinded their offer to the Hornets after Williams reportedly failed his physical examination. He was later traded for two first round picks to the Phoenix Suns. Although Doncic’s request for Williams was not completely fulfilled, the Lakers showed his opinions matter to the organization.

James and Davis had also been asking the Lakers to acquire a true center for years before they targeted Williams. However, Los Angeles never followed through with the pair’s request. 

This is not to say the Lakers no longer value James’ opinions. But Los Angeles knows the 26-year-old Doncic will be a superstar in the NBA for many years to come, whereas the 40-year-old James is potentially entering the final season of his career.

James has also emerged as a potential trade option for the Lakers, as their goals for the 2025-26 season are not aligning. James will always be a legend in the NBA, but the Lakers seem to be looking toward their future with Doncic.

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