Overview
- ClutchPoints reporting, echoed by Yahoo Sports, says Lakers officials grew dissatisfied with Davis over offseason communication lapses and what multiple sources described as below‑average fitness entering camp.
- Anonymously sourced accounts cited by those outlets allege Davis appeared out of shape in preseason workouts and sometimes disengaged from team activities, fueling internal frustration.
- Davis’ push for more frontcourt help — including fewer minutes at center — is described as the “last straw” that further strained relations with management before trade talks accelerated.
- Brett Siegel’s reporting says Los Angeles began making trade calls in December 2024, drawing interest from the Celtics, Bucks and Cavaliers before the February deal that sent Davis to Dallas for Luka Dončić.
- EssentiallySports adds that Davis reportedly arrived to Mavericks camp overweight and has missed games with a calf strain, with league chatter suggesting those concerns could depress his market value and complicate Dallas’ options.