The Los Angeles Lakers have begun to face the harsh reality of complacency. Nearly 17 months after Anthony Davis first requested help at center, the front office has yet to deliver the type of talent their franchise player asked for.
Davis has now taken to a public stage to voice his concerns, letting it be known that he would like to spend more time at power forward.
The controversial saga of Davis hoping to spend more time at the 4 has put the Lakers in a compromising position. It's a bit of a self-inflicted wound, as free agency and previous trade opportunities have been passed over, thus backing them into a corner in 2025.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Lakers are thankfully responding to Davis' public request for help at center by making it a top priority ahead of the trade deadline.
"Davis has made his stance known. He wants another starting-caliber center on the roster. Adding another big has become even more of a priority for the Lakers, according to team and league sources."
There are reasons to be concerned about the lack of options on the trade front, but the Lakers taking Davis seriously is a positive sign.
Lakers responding positively to Anthony Davis making public request
The possibility existed for Pelinka and the Lakers to react unfavorably to Davis' public request. Whether or not they would've been in the right is a debate for another day, but it would've put a strain on their relationship with the franchise player.
Instead, Pelinka seems to be prioritizing an improvement in an area that his franchise player believes will help both he and the team at large.
There's ample reason to believe that Davis is on the right track with his desire to spend more time at power forward. Some might see it as a simple change of position, but it's less about playing the 4 and more about acknowledging his role on defense.
Davis is tasked with defending every corner of the court on any given possession, and up to this point, the Lakers have failed to provide him with interior relief.
Giannis Antetokounmpo plays a similar role for the Milwaukee Bucks, but he's flanked by an elite shot-blocker and rim protector in Brook Lopez. The same can be said for Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who's complemented by an All-Star interior presence in Jarrett Allen.
Davis, meanwhile, is currently complemented by players on minimum contracts and two-way deals—a formula that simply hasn't worked out.
Davis is 12th among players who have appeared in at least 20 games in defensive rebounding percentage. Opponents are shooting 9.8 percent worse within six feet of the rim when he's the primary defender. Even still, Los Angeles ranks No. 21 in opponent second-chance points and No. 28 in points allowed in the paint.
There are other flaws to explore addressing, but if the Lakers want to keep the franchise player happy and address two devastating issues, they'll honor Davis' request.