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Lakers: Anthony Davis HAS to play more center with Russell Westbrook

By Jason Reed

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 28: Russell Westbrook #4 of the Washington Wizards looks to shoot in front of Andre Drummond #2 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Capital One Arena on April 28, 2021 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 28: Russell Westbrook #4 of the Washington Wizards looks to shoot in front of Andre Drummond #2 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Capital One Arena on April 28, 2021 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers made a bombshell trade on Thursday in acquiring former MVP Russell Westbrook for Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the 22nd overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Asset-wise, this really was not that much to give up for a former MVP. The reason the price was so low is that Westbrook has a massive salary ($44 million) and has not been known to play winning basketball in recent years.

It is much easier for the Wizards to break that salary up and trade some of those pieces for more assets. The deal was reportedly done with Bradley Beal in mind to allow the team to surround him with more talent.

It is a risky move for the Lakers. While they did not trade much asset-wise, they are still handcuffing themselves financially and have limited themselves to a very specific group of free agents that they can pursue.

The Lakers need to knock everything else out of the park for this to work, which includes one of their star players, Anthony Davis, making a huge change that he has not been comfortable with in the past.

Anthony Davis HAS to play more center for Russell Westbrook to work on the Los Angeles Lakers.

Despite being the perfect modern center in the NBA, Anthony Davis has shown no desire to be a five in recent years. However, Davis and LeBron James reportedly met with Westbrook and AD expressed willingness to change positions to make this work. Hopefully, he means it.

In the regular season it does not really matter as much. The Lakers should still go out and sign another rim-protecting center as Marc Gasol is the only true center depth on the team and Davis can play mostly the four while playing the five in crunch time.

This team is so talented that they can coast and win 55 games as long as they stay healthy. The real challenge is in the playoffs where matchups are exposed and floor spacing becomes extremely important.

The spacing with Westbrook, Davis and LeBron is going to be horrible if Davis is playing the four. Davis can stretch the floor, sure, but just like Andre Drummond, whoever is in for the team at the center position is only going to clog the lanes for Westbrook and LeBron.

It is not a great fit. Sure, you could throw Marc Gasol out there to also stretch the floor, but the Lakers actually get a better rebounding presence by having Davis at the five.

The Lakers need shooters around their three stars and they have to close out with guys that they can trust in crunch time. One of those players might even be Alex Caruso if he re-signs. Caruso is so elite defensively that it is hard to take him off the floor in crunch time. And while he shot over 40% from three last season, he isn’t necessarily a marksman.

You can’t have Caruso also out there with a traditional center. The shooting around the stars is going to be so poor and it is going to be a problem. The Lakers need to have two wings to come off the bench that can knock down shots in crunch time.

While Russ is still going to have to be okay with taking a backseat and not trying to play hero ball, getting Davis to actually play the five (which he should have been doing this whole time) is a big first step in making sure that this weird fit actually works.

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Luckily, LeBron James has one of the greatest basketball minds of all time and an entire season to figure this out and maximize the relationship. It isn’t destined to fail but it definitely could go up in flames.

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