The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in a precarious situation, with superstar Anthony Davis expressing his desire for the team to bring in another center to bolster the roster. Davis has been vocal about his preference to play alongside another big man, rather than being the lone presence in the paint, ever since he joined the Lakers in 2019.
As the Lakers grapple with how to fulfill Davis’ request, the question looms large – who can they add to the team to meet his needs? When Davis shifts to power forward, he thrives with more room to maneuver, staying healthy and efficient. The team saw success with this setup during Davis’ first year, but in recent seasons he has been logging more minutes at center, a position he seems less keen on occupying.
According to reports from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers have options to explore through trades, with players like Gabe Vincent, D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, or Jarred Vanderbilt potentially on the table. With a solid roster of up to 10 draft picks available through 2031, including the option to trade two first-round picks, the Lakers have plenty of assets to make a desirable trade offer for a new center.
The need for a center has become even more glaring after consecutive playoff exits at the hands of the Denver Nuggets, led by the formidable Nikola Jokic. The reigning NBA MVP’s versatile game proved too much for the Lakers to handle, underscoring the necessity of having another big man to complement Davis and bolster the frontcourt defense.
At present, the Lakers’ center rotation is lacking depth, with Christian Wood sidelined post-surgery and Jaxson Hayes as the lone healthy center on the roster. This puts Davis in a familiar position of shouldering the center duties, despite his stated preference to avoid such a role.
Rumors swirl around the Lakers’ front office, with speculation rife that they are actively seeking to add a center before the trade deadline. Head coach J.J. Redick has acknowledged the need for more size in the paint, indicating the organization’s seriousness in addressing the issue. As the season draws near, the pressure mounts for the Lakers to make a move, particularly if injuries or deficiencies in the frontcourt become apparent.
