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The Los Angeles Lakers secured their best win of the season on Thursday night over the Boston Celtics, but Anthony Davis is also thinking about what they need to add before the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
Davis told ESPN’s Shams Charania he would like to see the Lakers bring in more frontcourt depth.
“I think we need another big,” Davis said. “I feel like I’ve always been at my best when I’ve been the 4, having a big out there.”
Speaking to reporters after a 117-96 victory against the Celtics, Davis elaborated on that thought by saying him playing at the four with a true center is “more disruptive” on defense and he can float around on offense rather than having to be stationary under the basket.
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Anthony Davis on his comments to ESPN about wanting the Lakers to add another center and play him at the 4 more: “… I just feel like, personally, I’m a better player at the 4.” pic.twitter.com/zzaxt8npWN
There has been a lot of discussion recently about the Lakers’ approach leading up to the deadline.
The Athletic’s Jovan Buha reported on Tuesday that people around the NBA have the sense the Lakers are more likely to either stand pat or make a “half-measure” trade rather than go all-in by using their two first-round draft picks in 2029 and 2031 to facilitate a deal.
This was followed up by ESPN’s Shams Charania noting on Wednesday that Davis and LeBron James are “growing concerned” about the Lakers’ ability to make a significant addition.
Charania added that both star players have expressed they would like the front office to make moves that will help the team contend for a championship because they feel the Lakers are “a piece or two away” from being at that level.
While it’s hard to find a player who is a viable trade candidate that could potentially move the needle in L.A. to put this team on the level of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the rest of the Western Conference doesn’t look particularly strong right now.
The Houston Rockets are a largely untested playoff team with their current roster. The Dallas Mavericks have injury concerns, with Luka Dončić and Dereck Lively II both on the shelf. The Memphis Grizzlies have yet to make an extended playoff run with their core group.
Nikola Jokić is operating at another level for the Denver Nuggets, but no one knows what Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. will look like by the time the playoffs roll around.
The Lakers have already made one notable move to add Dorian Finney-Smith in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets. They have won four of their last five games to move a season-high six games over .500 (24-18) and are fifth in the Western Conference standings.
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