After failing to make the type of noise fans expected through almost all of 2024, the Los Angeles Lakers struck at the 25th hour. On Dec. 29, Los Angeles moved D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.
The move was made with the intention of addressing one of the Lakers' primary flaws—perimeter defense—but there's still work to be done on the roster improvement front.
Los Angeles is currently 20-16, which has it in an ideal place to make a push for top-four seeding in the Western Conference. In order to achieve that goal, however, the Lakers will need to find an answer to their issues along the interior—and the trade market is the most likely path to doing so.
During a recent NBA roundtable, ESPN analysts Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Bobby Marks, Kevin Pelton, and Michael Wright unanimously stated that the Lakers will make another trade in 2024-25.
The panel cited personal beliefs, as well as what they've heard from around the NBA about Los Angeles' intentions. The common theme seemed to be that the Lakers are aware of the need for improvement at center and are evaluating their options in that regard.
It's within the realm of possibility that the Lakers could potentially opt against a trade, but there are far too many reasons to go all-in on improvement to ignore—starting with appeasing the franchise player.
Lakers expected to make another trade, prioritizing a center
One of the worst-kept secrets in the NBA is that Lakers superstar Anthony Davis has asked for help at center on multiple occasions. Thus far, Los Angeles has failed to provide their focal point with the type of support he's requested.
Getting a trade done before the deadline would thus not only be a necessary move on the court, but a strong statement to the locker room.
2024-25 is the first season during which the Lakers have openly acknowledged that Davis, rather than LeBron James, is the franchise player. As such, one can only imagine that respecting his most well-documented request would go a long way toward making Davis feel supported.
Even if that isn't the Lakers' motivation, the pursuit of meaningful improvement on the court should be all they need to otherwise consider.
Los Angeles currently ranks No. 25 in offensive rebounds per game and No. 21 in offensive rebounds allowed per 100 possessions. It's No. 23 in second-chance points scored and No. 27 in second-chance points allowed.
Perhaps worst of all, the Lakers are No. 28 in the NBA in points allowed in the paint—with only the Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans giving up more.
One of the primary reasons for that dreadful display is the lack of ideal options at center. Davis is stretched thin as it is, defending every corner of the court on a team that lacks consistent on-ball or off-ball players, but now he must shoulder an all but exclusive load along the defensive interior.
With less than a month until the trade deadline, it would behoove the Lakers to live up to expectations and execute the highly-anticipated trade for a center.