Lakers Players Favor Point Guard Over Center Before NBA Trade Deadline

Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (L) and Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (R) joke on the bench against the Washington Wizards in the third quarter at Capital One Arena.

As the NBA trade deadline nears, the Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly leaning towards acquiring a playmaking guard rather than a center, altering the team’s roster priorities.

With the deadline fast approaching, the Lakers are evaluating their roster needs. While Anthony Davis has expressed his desire for the team to bring in a center, recent reports indicate that players inside the locker room are focused on securing a playmaking guard.

According to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, several Lakers players believe their biggest need since the D’Angelo Russell trade is adding a true secondary playmaker.

After Russell was traded to the Brooklyn Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton, the team has relied on Austin Reaves and LeBron James to run the offense. However, players feel that adding another reliable ballhandler would help stabilize the offense, especially in key moments when LeBron is off the court.

This shift in priorities has influenced the Lakers’ approach to the trade deadline, with reports indicating that the team is placing more emphasis on acquiring a playmaker rather than a center. Although Davis has advocated for bringing in a big man to ease his defensive responsibilities and allow him to shift to power forward, the Lakers’ front office seems to be focused on improving guard depth.

The Lakers have been linked to several playmaking guards, such as Malcolm Brogdon, Lonzo Ball, and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Despite Davis’ wishes, it appears acquiring a starting-caliber center is unlikely. The Lakers have explored deals for Myles Turner, Jakob Poeltl, and Walker Kessler, but all of them come with hefty asking prices.

Furthermore, Jaxson Hayes has shown improvement as a backup, and the team recently signed Trey Jemison III to a two-way contract. Instead of overpaying for a center, the Lakers may opt to use their trade assets to upgrade the backcourt.

Currently sitting in 5th place in the Western Conference, the Lakers have a roster capable of making a playoff run. However, their offense tends to struggle when LeBron is off the floor due to the lack of a secondary playmaker. While adding a center would be beneficial for Davis, acquiring a guard who can facilitate and create offense might have a more significant impact on the team’s postseason success.

With only days left before the February 6 deadline, the Lakers must decide whether to fulfill Davis’ request for a center or to follow the locker room’s belief that a playmaker is the missing piece.

Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela (15) reacts with guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (13) after scoring a basket against the Charlotte Hornets during the first half at State Farm Arena.