Negotiating from a point of obvious weakness is never ideal. However, that is exactly the type of scenario the Los Angeles Lakers have been thrust into with one week left until the NBA Trade Deadline on Feb. 6.
That point of weakness comes from the recent injury to Anthony Davis. The Lakers superstar suffered an abdominal muscle strain in the team's matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers and is expected to miss at least one week, as announced on the Twitter/X account by Los Angeles.
LAKERS MEDICAL UPDATE:
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 29, 2025
Lakers forward Anthony Davis underwent an MRI today that confirmed an abdominal muscle strain. The injury occurred in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s game at Philadelphia.
Davis will return to Los Angeles today and be re-evaluated in approximately…
The Lakers will be without Davis for upcoming matchups against bigs like Karl-Anthony Towns and Ivica Zubac. JJ Redick will have his work cut out for him in terms of scheming up a game plan to slow down those interior forces without his own dominant big man.
Is it time for the Lakers to cash their chips in?
The conversation of what the Lakers should do with their 2029 and 2031 first-round picks has been a hot topic, to say the least. If the Lakers believe in the idea of winning another championship with the duo of Davis and LeBron James, this is likely where push comes to shove for Los Angeles.
Lakers insider Jovan Buha shared that sentiment when offering his reaction to the Davis injury. If it's Walker Kessler or Myles Turner, the writer from The Athletic believes it to be a worthwhile venture for the team.
"This should be the push that the front office should have already had. ... With AD out, go get a better center that can compliment Anthony Davis, that can play next to him, that can man second unit lineups defensively, and can shore up this position that has really been a position of need for this group dating back to 2021 with the revolving door of minimum, vet minimum center options. ... This should be the sign that the center group is just not good enough right now.Jovan Buha
... I keep coming back to Walker Kessler and Myles Turner. I know that neither player is an All-Star and neither player is the sexiest name, but I just think with what the Lakers need and the window that they have here and just the way their assets are set up, I would strongly consider giving up both first round picks for either player."
To some extent, it has always felt like Rob Pelinka is trying to protect the future asset pool for life after LeBron with the more cautious approach taken recently. However, to Buha's point, when there is a window to contend for another championship with this current unit (and some help), the push is very justified.
Giving up those two valuable first-round picks may not feel ideal, but both Turner and Kessler, to varying extents, can help secure some foundation for the post-LeBron era anyways while allowing the Lakers to compete now.
Trading away their biggest chips now for frontcourt help could be viewed by many as a panic move. On the other hand, it can just as easily be interpreted as a vote of confidence in their current core.