David Pivnick

I think the weirdest part of the trade is how Anthony Davis is getting treated. And I think your lead in here is sort of emblematic of that, where it took until the third or fourth time you mentioned the trade before you even said his name. And I kind of feel like Anthony Davis is being treated like he's Bill Cartwright.

And I don't mean to have Bill Cartwright catching shots out here, but ultimately, you know, Anthony Davis is a legit star as well. One of the five or 10 best big men in the NBA might be one of the 10 best players, far better defensively. And he's frankly, I think a pretty damn good fit on Dallas.

And I don't mean to have Bill Cartwright catching shots out here, but ultimately, you know, Anthony Davis is a legit star as well. One of the five or 10 best big men in the NBA might be one of the 10 best players, far better defensively. And he's frankly, I think a pretty damn good fit on Dallas.

So I think it's an interesting deal more than anything else, because he came completely out of left field. I think it's great for the Lakers to Not that they need help attracting superstars, but this will allow them to transition seamlessly from LeBron to their next generation and keep Luka around and build around him for the next decade.

So I think it's an interesting deal more than anything else, because he came completely out of left field. I think it's great for the Lakers to Not that they need help attracting superstars, but this will allow them to transition seamlessly from LeBron to their next generation and keep Luka around and build around him for the next decade.

There's a lot of speculation about how fit he was, whether they wanted to pay him, et cetera. I have no idea what's true or not. I will say seeing video and pictures of him

There's a lot of speculation about how fit he was, whether they wanted to pay him, et cetera. I have no idea what's true or not. I will say seeing video and pictures of him

over the last week after the trade, he looks to be the exact same size he's been at all points in time while in Dallas, which is to say he's been one of the best players in the NBA his entire career at seemingly the exact same size as Ed Dow. So I don't put a lot of stock in that.

over the last week after the trade, he looks to be the exact same size he's been at all points in time while in Dallas, which is to say he's been one of the best players in the NBA his entire career at seemingly the exact same size as Ed Dow. So I don't put a lot of stock in that.

It's different than, for example, when Zion Williamson was out with injuries and there were a lot of pictures that surfaced of him where he was visibly heavier and it looked like he hadn't taken care of himself taking care of himself while injured. Luka, you know, to me, it looks like he's fit and that Dallas may have been making excuses, but I do think Charles Barkley's general premise is right.

It's different than, for example, when Zion Williamson was out with injuries and there were a lot of pictures that surfaced of him where he was visibly heavier and it looked like he hadn't taken care of himself taking care of himself while injured. Luka, you know, to me, it looks like he's fit and that Dallas may have been making excuses, but I do think Charles Barkley's general premise is right.

I subscribe to the notion that Dallas is a better title contender this year with Anthony Davis than they were with Luka. And I recognize that's an odd comment, you know, when they made it to the NBA finals last year. So they were right on the doorstep of a championship. So they were pretty damn close. But they now have an incredible front court with Davis, Lively, Gafford, and P.J. Washington.

I subscribe to the notion that Dallas is a better title contender this year with Anthony Davis than they were with Luka. And I recognize that's an odd comment, you know, when they made it to the NBA finals last year. So they were right on the doorstep of a championship. So they were pretty damn close. But they now have an incredible front court with Davis, Lively, Gafford, and P.J. Washington.

It's one of the deepest and most talented front courts in the league. And Kyrie Irving, who I'm certainly not a big fan of, but you can't deny the guy's talented and can play lead guard. So they had two guys who played a similar role with Luka and Kyrie. Now they have a much better complement. And so adding a pick down the road,

It's one of the deepest and most talented front courts in the league. And Kyrie Irving, who I'm certainly not a big fan of, but you can't deny the guy's talented and can play lead guard. So they had two guys who played a similar role with Luka and Kyrie. Now they have a much better complement. And so adding a pick down the road,

and adding Max Christy, who I think will be a decent bench player, you know, whether that's fair value for Luca is in the eyes of the beholder, but I don't understand why, for example, Vegas had, you know, the Lakers title chances have gone down. Like the odds have gone down. In other words, they think.

and adding Max Christy, who I think will be a decent bench player, you know, whether that's fair value for Luca is in the eyes of the beholder, but I don't understand why, for example, Vegas had, you know, the Lakers title chances have gone down. Like the odds have gone down. In other words, they think.

Yeah, I think it's a legitimate concern. I think, you know, Luka is a guy who expects to have the ball in his hands in key moments. Clearly, LeBron feels the same, and both of them, frankly, have earned that right. LeBron more so, but they've both very much earned it.

Yeah, I think it's a legitimate concern. I think, you know, Luka is a guy who expects to have the ball in his hands in key moments. Clearly, LeBron feels the same, and both of them, frankly, have earned that right. LeBron more so, but they've both very much earned it.

So I think that's going to be an interesting dynamic, seeing how they share the ball, how they complement each other, whether it ends up helping with forced spacing because they can both shoot decently, although LeBron is not as elite a shooter as you might hope in that kind of combo situation. But I think the Lakers have some real foundational issues. They don't have much in the front court.