Clock is ticking on Anthony Davis' time as Lakers' primary star

Davis was always meant to take over from James when the time was right. However, his struggles with injuries slightly derailed his timeline to cement himself as the player Rob Pelinka and the front office should build around. 

Still, there's no denying what Davis is capable of when he's healthy. He played in 76 regular-season games for the Lakers last season, averaging 24.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists on 55.6% shooting from the field. He's also one of the most dominant defenders in the NBA.

It makes sense, then, that Davis continues to lead the way, especially if JJ Redick can find new ideas to unlock Davis' dominant scoring ability. 

Unfortunately for Davis, Buha is likely correct in his assessment. Davis' issues with his lower back in recent years likely mean that he doesn't have long left before his skillset and athleticism begin to wane. He isn't the same type of player as James, nor can he be expected to show the same incredible longevity. 

Perhaps that's why the Lakers are asking Redick to implement a system that helps nurture and develop younger talent. The Lakers have a championship window that likely spans two years at most. After that, they must begin to rebuild, and that either means Davis is moved to a new team or forced to accept a secondary or tertiary role in the rotation. 

Davis would be much more likely to accept that sort of role change if he had another championship ring for his collection. Right now, the return on investment for his addition to the roster is far from what anyone expected.