NBA insider Jovan Buha believes it is not "inconceivable" that Anthony Davis would not want to play for the Los Angeles Lakers following LeBron James' retirement.

Buha said in a Wednesday night livestream that he would "not be surprised" if Davis requested a trade should James retire at the end of the 2024-25 season.

When asked about the possibility of Davis requesting a trade if James leaves at the 28-minute mark of the video above, Buha answered:

I do think AD has been happy in LA. You know, he obviously re-signed, he asked out of New Orleans to come to LA and he won a championship here. I think the fans right now, obviously are a bit upset, but in general, I think the fans have been pretty pro AD and defending him against a lot of the other fan bases or media people or whatnot that have criticized him. So, I think AD's been happy and he's a relatively low maintenance guy, especially by superstar standards. So, I think he's someone that as long as he ages well, the Lakers can continue to feature as their best or second best player.

I think that the ideal scenario is replacing LeBron with a younger star at some point, obviously not trading him for a younger star, but once LeBron retires acquiring that other star and then AD kind of probably taking a step back, letting that star, if it's the right level or a right caliber of star, letting that person shine and and sort of lead the franchise.

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. 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."

Buha referenced a May report from Sam Amick of The Athletic, during which Amick stated that the Lakers had fired former head coach Darvin Ham in part because of Davis' opinion, as evidence of the star's influence on the organization.

James, who turns 40 later this month, said in November that he isn't "going to play that much longer."

"I don't know how many years that is. If it's one year or two years, whatever the case may be," James said on Nov. 14. "I said the other night, I'm not playing until the wheels fall off. I'm not going to be that guy. I'm not going to be the guy who is disrespecting the game because I just wanted to be out on the floor."

James, who is signed through this season with a player option for 2025-26, is averaging 22.3 points through the Lakers' first 22 games.

Davis is meanwhile leading the Lakers with 26.9 points per game. He is signed for two more seasons with a player option for 2027-28.

For now the Lakers' focus will be on turning the 2024-25 season around. J.J. Redick's squad currently sits in the middle of the Western Conference with a 12-10 record, and the team has lost six of its last eight games heading into Friday's matchup with the Atlanta Hawks.