The Lakers coach has a very clear idea of the type of player his team needs
The Los Angeles Lakers are approaching a pivotal trade deadline window with limited options due to the substantial salaries of LeBron James and Bronny James. This financial constraint restricts their ability to bring in several potential players.
However, if the Lakers decide to pursue a new addition, the new head coach emphasizes the importance of targeting a specific type of player. Currently, the Lakers have only one player, Anthony Davis, who fits this crucial role. Davis possesses unique characteristics essential for the team, highlighting the necessity to reinforce his position
Redick urges for a new Lakrs’ Big Man
Historically, the Los Angeles Lakers have always prioritized having a dominant big man who can score over 30 points per game, making him a formidable presence on the court.
J.J. Redick, speaking on Sirius XM Radio, highlighted this tradition by stating, “You certainly have to look at what I think is actually a very good roster, a very balanced roster. We’d love to, we tried, but we’d love to, at some point, get another five man, a big bruising center.”
“You look at the Western Conference right now, whether it’s Denver, Minnesota, OKC with what they added, certainly Memphis, they’re going to be back in the hunt, they added Zach Edey, certain matchups in the playoffs, you’re going to need a lot of size.”
When Redick talks about needing another five man, he is subtly suggesting that Anthony Davis lacks the defensive prowess seen in players like Nikola Jokic, Rudy Gobert, or Chet Holmgren. Finding an ideal big man who excels both offensively and defensively is challenging, especially with the Lakers’ limited wage cap.
Unfortunately, Davis remains the only prominent big man on the Lakers’ roster, as many potential trade targets have already signed with other teams. Despite having players like Christian Wood, Jaxson Hayes, and Jarred Vanderbilt, the Lakers still lack that key defensive big man.
