Anthony Davis spoke after the Los Angeles Lakers‘ massive 117-96 win over their rivals, the Boston Celtics. When asked by Jovan Buha to elaborate on the comments he made to Shams Charania of ESPN about wanting the team to trade for a center, he noted that he and the Lakers can only continue to win games and show the front office that this team is worth improving on.
Jovan Buha: “You told Shams that you think this team still needs another big. Along those lines of urgency, there are a couple of weeks until the deadline. Is part of that urgency showing the front office a championship is attainable? Do you feel urgency on that front?”
Anthony Davis: “I mean, we always want to have a championship mindset. We always want it to be attainable. I think our front office is, obviously working. Rob [Pelinka] is working on trying to better the team. But for us, it’s about going out and playing.”
“Whether something happens or not, we have to go out and compete with whatever is in this locker room. Just like we did tonight. We’re gonna go on the (Grammy) trip. Not sure what’s gonna happen. I know he is always working on the phones and stuff like that. But at the end of the day, we can’t try to wait on anything. We gotta go out and compete and do what we gotta do to win basketball games.”
Following up on this, Buva asked Davis whether he fits better at power forward or at center, on both ends of the court. Davis noted that having a center alongside him at power forward gives the Lakers a size advantage. On top of that, he is far more comfortable playing power forward as that is the position he has played his whole career.
Jovan Buha: “What do you feel like is the biggest advantage for you at the 4 vs. the 5? (Both ends).
Anthony Davis: “Well, defensively, just bringing another big out there, we’ve seen it with Jaxson, we’re a little bit more disruptive. Offensively, it just allows me to float around a little bit more. I only started playing the 5 in 2021.”
“I’d have stretches, but I was primarily a 4. My whole career I’ve been playing to 4 and we’ve seen how I play. I just feel a little bit more effective… But the front office knows that. I’ve told them every year I’ve been here, so it’s nothing new.”
Davis has been very open in the past about his desire to play at power forward. But he has never been this public with his demands, or even requests, from the Lakers to trade for or acquire a traditional center. Clearly, he believes that the Lakers could secure a center, and by extension, expand their chances of competing for an NBA championship.
It was recently reported that the Lakers were close to agreeing to a deal for Walker Kessler, but it did not materialize. It isn’t known whether Rob Pelinka will revisit any talks, but that is an option the Lakers should consider. And if they don’t act quickly, the Warriors could stun them and acquire Kessler, like we have pitched in a mock trade here.
If Kessler is still a target, the Lakers could land him, along with three other players, in this major trade idea we came up with. It is clear that the Lakers roster has potential, but desperately needs to be improved if they stand any chance of competing for an NBA championship.
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