How the Anthony Davis Extension Affects Jazz's Future Draft Position

Where is the 2027 Los Angeles Lakers first-rounder in possession of the Utah Jazz trending?
How the Anthony Davis Extension Affects Jazz's Future Draft Position
How the Anthony Davis Extension Affects Jazz's Future Draft Position /

On Friday, the Los Angeles Lakers re-signed eight-time All-Star Anthony Davis to a $186 million extension that runs through the 2028 season. It’s a development worth noting due to the 2027 top-four-protected draft pick the Utah Jazz acquired from the Lakers at last year's trade deadline.

There is a decent chance that the selection will be traded when it’s time to cash in, but how valuable the pick is perceived could have an impact on future dealings the Jazz may be involved in.

Where are the Lakers trending to be in 2027? Let’s examine.

Considering his injury history, Davis being under contract during the season leading up to the 2027 selection doesn’t guarantee much. He’ll be 33 years old entering the 2026-27 year with a consistent track record of missing more than his share of time on the court. 

In fact, Davis has missed 104 games in three years and hasn’t been close to playing a full season since the 2017-18 campaign when he logged a career-high 72 games.

The Lakers will also have guards Austin Reaves and Jalen Hood-Schifino under team control through 2027. It may be too early to project how good the Lakers' backcourt will be being four years removed from the selection, but at the least, it’s a pair that has plenty of room and time to grow.

Building through the draft will be tough due to what was given up in the Davis trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Lakers won’t have a first-round pick next year, but they do own their 2025 and 2026 first-round pick. However, with LeBron James' tenure in L.A. almost over, at least one of those picks will likely be used to help the Lakers get one more championship.

The Lakers are always going to be a team that can rebuild through free agency, but even that proposition in today’s NBA can be a little murky. Most top-tier players are signing max deals before they hit the market. Acquiring All-NBA talent has been done via trade as of late, and the Lakers don’t have the assets to compete if a star of their liking becomes available. 

It all adds up to a pick having a really good shot of landing in the lottery. A healthy Davis could flip the script for the Lakers, but past performance is the best predictor of future behavior, which bodes well for Utah.


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Patrick Byrnes
PATRICK BYRNES

Patrick Byrnes is the Deputy Editor of The Frozen Rope — SI.com's team website covering the Utah Jazz.