Press conferences and scrums offer a bit of insight into what is going on within a player's head. The Los Angeles Lakers and their fans saw that when LeBron James highlighted the roster issues with the team after one of their matchups against the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this season.
However, hearing what a player has to say in a proper sit-down interview, where they are comfortable and relaxed, free to speak their mind, can usually offer the best insight into the opinions and viewpoints that a player holds. That was exactly the case when Anthony Davis joined Shams Charania for a one-on-one interview for ESPN.
Anthony Davis opens up on championship hopes, team needs
One of the biggest things that Davis reassured was that the leaders of the team, James and himself, are still eyeing another title for Los Angeles.
"One, we want to win it for the city. Two, we never got a parade. ... Three, there's a lot of talk about an asterisk next to the championship, which I believe was probably the toughest championship to win, but we just think it's time.Anthony Davis
We feel like we are right there, as far as the team and everything like that. ... Him and I are very, very motivated to win another championship. That's what you play for every time you're going into a season. ... I don't want to leave this game with one championship."
Charania then guided the conversation to the previous comments from James that were alluded to earlier in this article. Davis was very up front about what he wants to see the Lakers add to the roster.
"I think we need another big. ... Our biggest matchup the past couple of years has been [the] Denver [Nuggets]. ... You see how [the] Minnesota [Timberwolves] beat Denver, two bigs.Anthony Davis
I've always been at my best when I've been the four. Having the big out there, we know it worked when we won the championship with JaVale [McGee] and Dwight [Howard] at the five, and I'm at the four.
I think our 2020 team was the perfect construction of a team. We had shooters. We had dogs defensively. We had scorers. ... We had size. Everybody knew their role."
Davis would then circle back to the feeling of the Lakers being right there, when it comes to winning a championship, but simply being a couple of pieces away. One of those pieces undoubtedly needs to be a big man, by the sound of the conversation had.
Davis primarily logged minutes at the four, sprinkling in time at the five, during the Lakers' most successful years with him and James at the forefront. His role has largely shifted to a full-time five in the past few seasons.
Before the NBA Trade Deadline comes around on Feb. 6, there should be a robust trade market of big men. That market should feature players like Nikola Vucevic, Jonas Valanciunas, Robert Williams III, and others.
There is a chance that an even better option at the five like Walker Kessler, Myles Turner, or Jakob Poeltl may be available for the right price. The opportunities should be there. Rob Pelinka and the front office need to be decisive in taking them, if they believe in the championship-winning duo.