The Los Angeles Lakers have made a powerful statement entering the second half of the 2024-25 regular season. Already on pace for a postseason appearance, Los Angeles defeated the rival Boston Celtics in a truly dominant manner, securing a 117-96 victory that seemed over at halftime.
At the heart of the success was Anthony Davis, whose performance on the court was somehow overshadowed by his words off of it.
Davis finished the win over Boston with 24 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and a steal in just 31 minutes. He was dominant on both ends of the floor, anchoring what may have been the best performance of the season from the purple and gold.
Prior to the game, however, Davis spoke with Shams Charania of ESPN and stated, for a third consecutive year, that he would like to see the Lakers acquire a high-quality center.
"I think we need another big. I feel like I've always been at my best when I've been the 4, having a big out there. We know it worked when we won a championship with JaVale [McGee] and Dwight [Howard] at the 5 and I'm at the 4. I think our '19-'20 team was the perfect construction of a team."
Davis previously asked Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka to make a move for a center in 2023 and 2024, and has now tripled down in 2025.
Anthony Davis has now asked for help at center in 2023, 2024, and 2025
Davis has been playing at an All-NBA level in 2024-25, which is right in line with what he did in 2023-24. As such, it's easy to defend the decision to play him at center when an obvious and significant amount of success is being experienced via that formula.
Davis is tasked with as heavy a defensive workload as any player in the NBA, however, oftentimes operating as the safety blanket for teammates at every position.
That demanding role typically pulls Davis away from the rim, thus leaving the Lakers exposed along the back line. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that Los Angeles is No. 28 in the NBA in points allowed in the paint and No. 25 in second-chance points permitted.
By adding the interior complement that Davis has been asking for, the Lakers could acknowledge those flaws and accentuate their franchise player's strengths on defense.
Adept comparisons to what Davis offers on defense would be Giannis Antetokounmpo and Evan Mobley. The Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers stars freely roam the defensive end of the floor, making their presence known wherever it is that their team needs them.
While Antetokounmpo and Mobley are flanked by proven rim protectors in Brook Lopez and Jarrett Allen, however, Davis is currently supported by a relatively unknown commodity in Jaxson Hayes.
This is no slight against Hayes, who has shown signs of progress on both ends of the floor in 2024-25. Instead, it's an acknowledgment of the fact that he isn't yet at the level of Allen or Lopez, or even that of a nightly starter, when it comes to protecting the paint or keeping opponents off the boards.
There may be other priorities to consider on the trade front, but if the Lakers want to avoid alienating Davis, then it's long past time to honor his request for help at center.