- Anthony Davis has revealed his desire to play at power forward more than center next season
- According to ESPN, he asked the Los Angeles Lakers to get more help on the roster at the center position
- Anthony Davis could play next to new signing Christian Wood
Anthony Davis is one of the league’s best big men when he is healthy, but the Los Angeles Lakers star rarely wants to play the traditional center position.
Despite having elite footwork and excellent defense, Anthony Davis prefers playing as a power forward next to another big man. As per a report from ESPN, he told the Lakers as much this offseason.
“Sources told ESPN that Davis made it clear to the organization he wanted to have more support at the center so he wouldn’t have to play so much 5 during the regular season,” Dave McMenamin wrote.
Anthony Davis played nearly the entire season at center for the Los Angeles Lakers last season. His numbers show that 99% of his minutes came at the position. It’s not surprising then, that he asked the Lakers to get him help in that department.
The Los Angeles Lakers announced the signing of Christian Wood on Wednesday, and his size will be a big help to Anthony Davis this season. If he can absorb those minutes that Anthony Davis doesn’t want, it might be a game-changer for the Lakers.
Christian Wood Might Not Be The Ideal Signing For This Situation
Christian Wood is 6’10” and quite athletic, so there is an understanding that he might play the center position. However, Wood is himself listed as a power forward and is anything but a traditional big man.
The former Dallas Mavericks man has averaged over nine rebounds per game in just two out of his seven seasons in the league. He also operates around the perimeter a lot more than he does deep inside.
Anthony Davis is the only listed center on the Lakers’ roster even after this acquisition, although they do have Jaxson Hayes to potentially fill the big man role.
In any case, while Wood and Davis can be on the floor together, it’s hard to imagine Wood as the center in that scenario.
Anthony Davis averaged 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2,0 blocks per game playing at center last season, and with a deep roster now around him and LeBron James, the Lakers might not want to change that too much.
Anthony Davis Needs To Stay Healthy Above Everything Else Next Season
When he’s on the court, Anthony Davis is arguably still a Top 10 player in the NBA. He can get buckets and he is a monster on defense. But what position he plays will not matter if he’s on the sidelines.
Davis’ injury issues have been surfacing again in recent years, a large factor in the Lakers having underachieved since winning the championship. He has played just 132 games in the last three regular seasons.
Stephen A. Smith is among those that doesn’t believe Anthony Davis can stay healthy. He isn’t the only one either, and AD has a lot more to prove before there can be serious discussions about his position on the court.
The Los Angeles Lakers have put together a solid roster, but the lack of traditional bigs might become a problem later in the season. How this scenario unfolds will decide whether or not the Los Angeles Lakers can win another NBA championship.
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