Anthony Davis came from the New Orleans Pelicans to the LA Lakers, not just to join LeBron James but to pursue a championship. He delivered on that goal the next season, yet his rise as the Lakers’ next big star never happened. That stalled progression set the stage for his February trade, and recent reports indicate the Lakers had been eyeing a split even before the Feb shocker.

Some chalk this all up to Davis’s injuries, but recent reporting suggests the concerns ran deeper. Brett Seigel of ClutchPoints notes that the Lakers doubted his commitment, believing his effort held him back from managing those injuries. One team source told Seigel that Davis often showed up to training camp in below-average shape, a trend that contributed to the growing push to move him.

“ There were moments

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