LeBron James, Anthony Davis NEED Draymond Green to fight Nuggets in the West as per NBA analyst

ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins explains why Draymond Green would be a perfect fit for the Lakers to challenge the Nuggets and Jokic.

LeBron James, Anthony Davis NEED Draymond Green to fight Nuggets in the West as per NBA analyst

Kendrick Perkins, left, and Darymond Green, right. (Via ESPN and Getty)

Nikola Jokic’s MVP season propelled the Denver Nuggets to the top of the West, where they dominated the Los Angeles Lakers in a four-game sweep in the conference finals. The Lakers, who have two superstars in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, were exposed for their lack of supporting cast and defensive intensity.

The Lakers need to make some major changes this offseason if they want to contend for another championship. One player who could be a game-changer for them is Draymond Green, who is hitting the free agency market after opting out of his $27.6 million deal for the 2023-24 season.

YouTube video

Green, a four-time champion with the Golden State Warriors, is one of the elite defenders and facilitators in the league. He could be the missing piece for the Lakers, as ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins suggested.

FS Video

Perkins said on Get Up on ESPN that the Lakers need someone like Green to counter Nikola Jokic and bring some grit and fire to their squad. He said:

“Absolutely he is, especially with Jokic being in the Western Conference, Jokic being the best player in the league right now, you definitely need a defensive duo like Draymond and AD,”

“Can you imagine those two guys on the floor together? Can you imagine the heat that Draymond Green could put in Anthony Davis’ back? That’s what he need, he needs a guy like that that’s gonna bring that tenacity, that’s gonna bring that fierce force energy every single night. So if you think about it, he could put the Lakers over the top, I mean they got swept all because they could not control and guard Jokic. So if you get Draymond on that team, it would be one of the best defensive duos we have seen in NBA history.”

Also Read: “KAT signing for $250M and they ain’t win a damn thing?” – Stephen A. Smith ARGUES why Draymond Green’s ‘easily’ worth $100M+

How likely is Draymond Green to join the Lakers?

Warriors' Draymond Green and Lakers' LeBron James
Warriors’ Draymond Green and Lakers’ LeBron James (Via Twitter)

Green would be a huge boost for the Lakers, but there are some obstacles that could stand in the way of this scenario. First of all, Green is still a coveted player who could attract interest from other teams, including his old team, the Warriors.

Secondly, the Lakers have limited cap space and trade pieces to sign or trade for Green. They are already shelling out big money for James and Davis, and they have several other players on their books who are either locked in or have player options. The Lakers would have to either dump some salary or convince Green to take a massive pay cut to join them.

So, while Green teaming up with the Lakers may seem like a smart move on paper, it may not be very realistic in practice. The Lakers will have to explore other options for their third star or hope that someone from their current group steps up next season.

In Case You Missed: