The Los Angeles Lakers have had their name sprinkled around the trade deadline for years, but no major acquisitions have resulted. With a 10-4 start to the season, the Lakers are reported to target a center prior to the league’s trade deadline in February.
“They have said this for a while, and I’ve reported this — they are actively looking for a big man to add to that lineup,” ESPN’s Shams Charania announced Tuesday on The Pat McAfee Show. “Who could that be? But they have assets to play with, they have contracts to play with.”
What Big Men Will Los Angeles Lakers Target?
Though many names such as Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic have been tied to the Lakers this season, Charania doesn’t believe the Lakers “have fully targeted a name yet.”
Regardless of who general manager Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick want to make a move for, the Los Angeles Lakers should be active participants as the season heads toward the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
An acquisition for a big man would also slide current center Anthony Davis back to his natural position at the four. This would take the physical load off of Davis and have him play a role that he prefers.
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“I like playing the four,” Davis said in 2019. “I’m not even going to sugarcoat it. I like playing the four. I don’t really like playing the five.”
Despite being listed as a center for the last four seasons, Davis remains impactful and has locked down both ends of the floor for the Purple and Gold. This year, the nine-time All-Star is having a career year and is averaging MVP numbers with 31.1 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game.
As it stands, the Lakers remain thin at their center position with a pair of 24-year-olds, Jaxon Hayes and Christian Koloko, holding down the five spot.
If the Lakers want to stay competitive through June, a trade to beef up their frontcourt with serviceable talent should be in the works.