After writing on Wednesday about LeBron James‘ and Anthony Davis‘ desire for the Lakers to be aggressive on the trade market and their belief that the team might just be a piece or two away from contending for a championship, Shams Charania of ESPN shared an in-depth interview with Davis on Thursday in which the star big man publicly expressed that belief (YouTube link).
Asked by Charania whether he feels the Lakers are a couple pieces away from having a legitimate shot at a title, Davis emphatically replied, “We are. I really feel like we are.”
Davis pointed to what he believes is a specific area of need for the team, suggesting that he could use some more help in the frontcourt.
“I think we need another big,” he told Charania. “You see the teams that have been effective. Our biggest matchup the past couple years has been against Denver, trying to beat Denver. You watch Minnesota – obviously they’re a different team now – but you see how Minnesota beat Denver (in the 2024 playoffs) — two bigs.
“I feel like I’ve always been at my best when I’ve been the four and having a big out there. We know it worked when we won a championship with JaVale (McGee) and Dwight (Howard) at the five and I’m at the four.”
Jovan Buha of The Athletic recently identified the Lakers’ greatest needs as a two-way wing, another play-maker and ball-handler, and a center who can protect the rim and rebound. It’s possible the team will have enough bodies on the wing after acquiring Dorian Finney-Smith last month, especially if Jarred Vanderbilt is effective in his return from injuries that have sidelined him all season.
That would leave a ball-handler/play-maker and a big man as the two pieces the Lakers could most use. However, the club reportedly hasn’t been especially aggressive on the trade market and remains reluctant to trade its two movable first-round picks (2029 and 2031).
Los Angeles will also have to figure out which of its mid-sized contracts make sense to move. Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura are all making between $10MM and $17MM, but Vanderbilt and Vincent are considered negative assets due in part to their recent injury history. Meanwhile, the Lakers haven’t been willing to discuss Reaves and seem reluctant to part with Hachimura, since losing him would leave a hole in the lineup at forward.
As Buha writes in a story for The Athletic, Davis’ and James’ desire to trade those 2029 and 2031 first-round picks and go all-in is butting up against the front office’s preference to take a more conservative approach with an eye toward both the present and future.
Davis, James, and the Lakers made a strong case on Thursday for additional investment in this roster when they dismantled the Celtics, registering a 21-point home victory over the defending champions to push their record to 24-18. That’s the best mark Los Angeles has had at this point in the season since 2020/21.
According to Buha, when asked by reporters after the win about his comments to Charania, Davis said he knows Rob Pelinka and the front office are working the phones in search of upgrades. He also stressed that he and James have a “championship mindset,” echoing comments he made to ESPN about wanting to win another title.
“One, we want to win it for the city. Two, we never got a parade. Three, it’s a lot of talk about an asterisk next to the (2020) championship, which I believe was probably the toughest championship to win,” Davis told Charania. “We just think it’s time. We feel like we’re right there as far as the team and everything like that. (LeBron) and I are very, very motivated to win another championship.”
Don’t need first round pick
Nikola Vucevic
Zion
Need a first round pick
Ayton
WHAT?!?
Need a drug test
Sillivan
Genius.
Is anyone watching any games tonight?
Yes, Villanova at Marquette.
Kessler/Sexton trade is the only trade out there doable that gets this team to level up a tier
They’d have to put all draft capital left on the line unprotected. (even the swaps)
The playing for now while looking towards future will not work for either timeline
Its either pony up today or play thru the play in for years upon end (*if so lucky) Give Danny his goodie bag Rob!
That would be ideal for them and address two spots they lack. CP3 would be another that I think they’d be able to obtain, but not sure why they didn’t to begin with when he was available.
Couldn’t agree more. I’d give them the picks and Dalton. The nice thing is that both layers his Do are signed through next year.
Both the Lakers and Warriors always needed a big from day 1 and neither still has made a move to get one of the many available. Bad Front Offices Are Bad.
Did you watch the game last night. Post and Davis will be fine. No trade will make us any better so we might as well ride the season out and let them develop and go hard next year
You’ve got a young, talented big in Koloko waiting for minutes – but the front office would rather have Bronny riding the end of the bench
Least he’s not riding the couch like CWood
Agree tho Kolo is miles better than Hayes, its time for that change at minimum, tho I don’t think its nearly enough
Lakers are afraid to do it. They believe DFS will take them to the finals.
You think it’s possible that JRH could be that guy?
You are supposed to be that big man Anthony
AD has never, ever wanted to play 5.
Every time they ask AD he says he wants to be a 4.
I know but he needs to. If he could play the 5 like his size says he should then the Lakers could find other ways to improve. But he won’t because he’s selfish and doesn’t want to bang with the big boys
2020 was the “toughest championship to win”?? A 4+ month layoff between regular season and the “playoffs”; no crowds; no travel; minimal distraction between games; players throughout the league not wanting to be there and essentially ‘checked out’ for the season. “TOUGHEST championship to win”?? Get outta here win that garbage, Raggedy Ann-thony!
Hey, can someone look up for me the last time an NBA team lost 18 games in the first half of its season (through 41 games), only to turn its season around SO drastically that it ended up winning a title some 4-5 months later. Quit being delusional, Brawny Sensation and Raggedy Ann-thony. By now, everyone knows the games you two play outside the lines: deflecting blame from underachieving seasons by making it seem like the only possible reason you guys are not in the Finals every year is because of the front office – and it not appeasing your demands for more help – or whoever is “ineptly” calling the X’s and O’s for you on the sidelines (“Dear JJ, XO XO……Love, Brawny”). There are several better CONSTRUCTED, COHESIVE and COACHED teams out there this year that are also younger than you guys. So what that you beat Boston, who played OT the night before – didn’t you guys also beat the Celtics last year IN Boston…….and without BOTH OF YOU playing that night, Brawny and Raggedy?!
I’ll take a guess that the 1995 Rockets had 18+ losses through 41.
Hate much?
Another year and another quote from Anthony Davis about playing the 4…
We get it, you are made of glass and don’t wanna match up against 5s…
Hayes is in his second yr as a Laker. He is 24 and in his sixth yr in NBA. Still shows good athleticism for a big. Yet seems like the same player as when he was drafted.
You want to see how Teans fail players. Don’t look further than this player. Has not been developed. Has never been helped to become a better player. He should have been in G-league for three yrs. That’s where you get mins and grow. Not on the bench of teams Praying you get better ………
No reason in the world. Why he shouldn’t be a serviceable backup C by now. This is failure by organizations. Who think like dumb fans. That cause you’re a first rd pick or lottery pick. You will save your team ………. Do the work and less praying.
The answer is in Taiwan
He’s blackballed for being fruity and rapey