• Wed. Feb 19th, 2025

Lakers Players Lean Towards Point Guard, Not Center, As Trade Deadline Approaches

Lakers Players Favor Playmaking Guard Over Center Ahead of NBA Trade Deadline

As the NBA trade deadline nears, the Los Angeles Lakers are re-evaluating their roster needs. Although Anthony Davis has openly expressed a desire for the team to acquire a center, reports indicate that Lakers players in the locker room prefer adding a playmaking guard instead.

Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times reports that many Lakers players feel the team’s biggest need after the D’Angelo Russell trade is a true secondary playmaker. Since Russell’s trade to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton, the team has relied on Austin Reaves and LeBron James to handle the offense. However, the players believe that adding another reliable ballhandler would help the team’s offensive rhythm, especially when LeBron is not on the court.

The Lakers’ approach to the trade deadline has been shaped by this priority, with the team reportedly focusing more on securing a playmaking guard than a center. While Davis has advocated for a big man to ease his defensive load and allow him to move to power forward, the Lakers’ front office seems to be giving more weight to the need for depth in the backcourt.

The Lakers have been linked to several playmaking guards, such as Malcolm Brogdon, Lonzo Ball, and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Despite Davis’ preference for a center, the likelihood of acquiring a starting-caliber big man appears slim. The Lakers have explored trades for Myles Turner, Jakob Poeltl, and Walker Kessler, but each comes with a steep price tag.

Moreover, Jaxson Hayes has been showing improvement as a backup, and the team recently signed Trey Jemison III to a two-way deal. Rather than overpaying for a center, the Lakers may focus their trade assets on upgrading their backcourt.

Currently sitting 5th in the Western Conference, the Lakers have a roster capable of making a playoff run. However, without a consistent secondary playmaker, their offense falters when LeBron is off the floor. While adding a center would benefit Davis, acquiring a reliable guard who can run the offense and create scoring opportunities could have a bigger impact on the Lakers’ postseason chances.

With the February 6 deadline fast approaching, the Lakers face the decision of whether to honor Davis’ request for a center or to align with the locker room’s belief that a playmaking guard is them Missing link.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *