With the NBA trade deadline fast approaching, the Los Angeles Lakers continue to assess their roster needs. While Anthony Davis has been vocal about his desire for the team to add a center, recent reports suggest that Lakers players inside the locker room have a different priority: a playmaking guard.
According to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, several players believe the Lakers’ biggest issue following the D’Angelo Russell trade is their lack of a true secondary playmaker.
Since Russell was dealt to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton, the team has leaned heavily on Austin Reaves and LeBron James to run the offense. However, players feel another reliable ballhandler would help stabilize the team’s offensive flow, particularly in crucial moments when LeBron is off the floor.
This sentiment has shaped L.A.’s trade deadline approach, with the team reportedly prioritizing a playmaker over a center. While Davis has pushed for an additional big man to ease his defensive burden and allow him to shift to power forward, the Lakers’ front office seems to be weighing guard depth more seriously.
The Lakers have been linked to multiple playmaking guards, including Malcolm Brogdon, Lonzo Ball, and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Despite Davis’ preference, acquiring a starting-caliber center seems unlikely. The Lakers have explored trades for Myles Turner, Jakob Poeltl, and Walker Kessler, but all carry high asking prices.
Additionally, Jaxson Hayes has shown signs of improvement as a backup, and the team recently signed Trey Jemison III to a two-way deal. Rather than overpay for a center, the Lakers could focus their trade assets on securing a backcourt upgrade.
The Lakers sit at 5th in the Western Conference and have a roster capable of making a playoff push. However, without a steady secondary playmaker, their offense stalls when LeBron is off the floor. While adding a center would benefit Davis, acquiring a reliable guard who can facilitate and create offense could have a greater impact on L.A.’s postseason success.
With just days remaining until the Feb. 6 deadline, the Lakers must decide whether to prioritize Davis’ request or follow the locker room’s belief that a playmaker is the missing piece.
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