The Los Angeles Lakers found themselves in need of a big man after sending Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic on Saturday. Although they still have players like Jaxson Hayes and Jarred Vanderbilt, their frontcourt now seems weaker without Davis. Despite Davis going on record in an interview asking for a big man so he can shift back to being a power forward, the team’s front office did not show interest in the idea coming into the 2024-2025 season.
In a recent press interview, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka addressed the issue of the team lacking a dedicated center, especially now that AD has been traded out. However, it may not be as simple as it reads on paper.
“We know that our roster has continued work to do to be complete,” Pelinka said. “We’re going to build a roster that fits JJ Redick’s basketball philosophy. We know we have a need for a big. The market for a big is very dry.”
Rob Pelinka: “We know that our roster has continued work to do to be complete. … We’re going to build a roster that fits JJ Redick’s basketball philosophy. … We know we have a need for a big. The market for a big … is very dry.” Pelinka adds they’re looking at marginal moves.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) February 4, 2025
The general manager also added that he expects the team to “move around the margins,” with bigger moves in the offseason. With that said, he reiterated the plan to consult with head coach JJ Redick to plan for roster moves that fit his coaching vision for the team.
Several center trade targets have been linked to the Lakers this season. Jonas Valanciunas was a popular option, but interest in him seems to have faded.
Myles Turner has recently been mentioned as a possibility, as his defensive skills would be a good fit. However, it’s uncertain whether the Indiana Pacers are willing to move him before his free agency. Nikola Vučević is on the market, but his lack of defensive presence could be a drawback. Walker Kessler and Jakob Poeltl would be solid additions, but their respective teams don’t appear eager to trade them at the moment.
Luka Doncic on Starting His Los Angeles Lakers Journey: “Play to Win Championships”
In a post on his X account, Luka Doncic expressed his excitement about starting a new chapter of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers and also reaffirmed that he will carry on the same mindset that he had when he was with the Dallas Mavericks.
“Grateful for this amazing opportunity,” Doncic said in his post. “Basketball means everything to me, and no matter where I play the game, I’ll do so with the same joy, passion, and goal: to win championships.”
Grateful for this amazing opportunity. Basketball means everything to me, and no matter where I play the game, I’ll do so with the same joy, passion and goal – to win championships. https://t.co/psfgI5o9Pn
— Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) February 2, 2025
The Los Angeles Lakers are currently 5th in the Western Conference, with a record of 28-19.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
