The Los Angeles Lakers have hit a tough point in the season. They’ve lost back-to-back games by a combined 70 points and have fallen to ninth place in the Western Conference.

Superstar big man Anthony Davis looked like an MVP candidate early in the season but has scored fewer than 20 points in four of the Lakers’ last five games.

Los Angeles is 1-4 in games where Davis scores fewer than 20 points. LeBron James turns 40 in December and his recent struggles have led to speculation that this could possibly be his final NBA season.

If he were to retire after the season, that would put Davis’ future into question.

Lakers insider for The Athletic Jovan Buha recently admitted that he believes that Davis is happy in Los Angeles but could see him potentially requesting a trade in the offseason if James retires.

“But I wouldn’t say it’s inconceivable that he asked out, but I think he’s been pretty happy in LA and I think he’s aware of LeBron’s plans,” Buha said in a Dec. 4 video posted to YouTube.

“I also think if he wants out, I think the Lakers should just honor that because it’s like at that point, if LeBron retires maybe it is best to rebuild and just keep your picks and then maybe at that point, they have kept their picks and just kind of punted on this season and next season.

But I think if I had to lean one way, I’d probably lean toward AD staying, but I would not be surprised if he asked out.”

Davis is under contract through the 2026-27 season and has a player option in 2027-28, so he doesn’t have much leverage should he want a trade after the season.