The Los Angeles Lakers may only be a piece or two away from vaulting back into true title contention, at least according to their star big man Anthony Davis. In a recent interview with Shams Charania of ESPN, Davis expressed his belief that the Lakers are “right there” in the championship picture but pinpointed one specific roster need holding them back – a true center.
“I think we need another big,” Davis candidly shared with Charania this week. The 8-time All-Star, who has been manning the center position for much of this season, elaborated, “I feel like I’ve always been at my best when I’ve been the 4, having a big out there.”
Championship Blueprint from 2020
Davis’ comments harken back to the Lakers’ 2020 championship roster construction, which he described as “the perfect” setup. That title-winning squad surrounded Davis and LeBron James with a deep stable of centers in Javale McGee and Dwight Howard, allowing Davis to play his preferred power forward position.
We know it worked when we won a championship with Javale and Dwight at the 5 and I’m at the 4.
– Anthony Davis on the Lakers’ 2020 title team
Time for a Trade Deadline Splash?
With the February 6th NBA trade deadline fast approaching, Davis’ public appeal for a center is sure to reverberate through the Lakers’ front office. The team currently sits at 23-18, clinging to the 6th playoff spot in the competitive Western Conference. Davis believes one or two savvy additions could be the difference.
“We feel like we are right there, you know, as far as the team and everything like that,” he explained. “LeBron and I are like very, very motivated to win another championship.” Will the Lakers’ brass heed their stars’ call to arms?
Thin in the Middle
As currently constructed, the Lakers have just one traditional center logging meaningful minutes in Jaxson Hayes. While the springy 7-footer is chipping in 5.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, he’s a far cry from the veteran savvy and two-way impact McGee and Howard provided during the title run.
- McGee in 2020: 6.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.4 bpg in 16.6 mpg
- Howard in 2020: 7.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.1 bpg in 18.9 mpg
While Davis is still stuffing the stat sheet to the tune of 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per night, his sizable workload as the team’s defensive anchor and lone rim protector may not be sustainable for a deep playoff push. An injection of size and depth behind Davis and James could help the Lakers recapture their 2020 formula.
Stars Aligned But Clock Ticking
With Davis playing at a peak level and James still performing at an MVP-caliber clip in his 19th season, the Lakers’ championship window remains cracked open. But the time to strike may be now. As Davis noted, “hopefully the Lakers make a move to enhance his chances at winning another championship.”
The league will be watching closely to see if the Lakers’ front office can deliver their stars the reinforcements they covet. In a wide-open title chase, one or two deft deadline maneuvers could dramatically tilt the landscape in Los Angeles’ favor. With Davis and James on the roster, the Lakers will always have a puncher’s chance – but a rugged rebounder and rim protector could be the missing piece to a 2025 championship puzzle.
