Anthony Davis has issued a clear message to the Los Angeles Lakers after consecutive NBA playoff exits at the hands of the Denver Nuggets: it’s time to find him a reliable frontcourt partner.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Davis has expressed a firm preference for playing alongside another big man. “One thing Davis has made clear to the Lakers, sources told ESPN, is his preference to play alongside another big more often.”
The Lakers captured the 2020 championship in the Orlando bubble with veteran centers Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee bolstering Davis, allowing him to play his preferred power forward position rather than center. However, the team hasn’t been able to replicate that formula since.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Davis’ performance alongside Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo during Team USA’s gold medal run at the 2024 Paris Olympics reinforced his point. Coming off the bench, Davis contributed 8.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and a team-leading 1.5 blocks per game in just 16.6 minutes.
Lakers Need a New Frontcourt Talent
This offseason, however, the Lakers failed to secure a significant frontcourt upgrade. Davis is left with Jaxson Hayes, who lacks experience, and Christian Wood, who is currently dealing with injury issues.
Wood, after undergoing knee surgery in March, will miss training camp and at least the first eight weeks of the season following another knee surgery, as reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic.
With LeBron James turning 40 this season, the Lakers brought in JJ Redick as their new head coach, aiming for Davis to lead the franchise into a new era. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Davis played an instrumental role in Redick’s hiring and was involved in conversations about how the team would operate moving forward.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Redick envisions Davis as the centerpiece of the Lakers’ offense. “[Redick] talked about me being the hub of the offense,” Davis said, according to the Washington Post’s Ben Golliver. Redick also plans to push the Lakers to play faster, shoot more threes, and defend aggressively—all with the end goal of another championship.
A Need for Size in the Frontcourt
Redick, like Davis, wants to add a physically dominant big man to the roster. He expressed his desire for a strong presence in the frontcourt to match up with other Western Conference contenders. “We’d love to, at some point, get another five man, a big bruising five man,” Redick stated during a SiriusXM NBA Radio interview at the NBA Summer League.
Redick pointed to teams like Denver, Minnesota, and Memphis as examples of why the Lakers need more size in their rotation to contend for a title.
A few names that continue to be floated as possible trade targets for the Lakers include Jonas Valančiūnas and Nikola Vučević. Los Angeles’ potential trade activity for a big man will be something to monitor.
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