The Los Angeles Lakers have built the future of the franchise around Anthony Davis. It was a perhaps delayed decision, as LeBron James battling Father Time had Los Angeles understandably second-guessing if there was a true need to transition to Davis as a focal point before the 2024-25 season.
Unfortunately, that hesitation has cost the Lakers, as they're now actively squandering what could be one of the final seasons of Davis' prime.
Davis has been exceptional in 2024-25, averaging 25.8 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.6 offensive boards, 3.5 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game. Beyond the numbers, he's put the Lakers on his back, appearing in 34 out of 36 games and pacing his team through what could be described as an overachieving season.
Los Angeles is now 20-16 through 36 games, which has it on pace to make the playoffs and avoid the Play-In Tournament for the first time since its inception.
Unfortunately, the pace being set remains somewhat underwhelming compared to what a team with Davis should be able to achieve. Injuries to the supporting players have played a factor, but that can be said about a number of units around the NBA.
The unfortunate reality facing the Lakers is that they're failing to do right by Davis until they honor the trade request he made in 2023 and reiterated in 2024.
Lakers must honor Anthony Davis' request for help at center
Dave McMenamin of ESPN reported in September of 2023 that Davis asked the Lakers to provide him with help at center. Davis had proven capable of thriving at the 5-spot, but his all-inclusive defensive role and past championship success contributed to a request to spend more time at the 4.
A year later, McMenamin released another report that outlined how Davis has, once again, requested that Los Angeles add help at center after they failed to do so in 2023.
Four months later, the Lakers have been linked to a number of centers in rumors, but have yet to pull the trigger on a potential trade. To make matters worse, it's now believed that long-time Los Angeles target Jonas Valanciunas no longer fits within Rob Pelinka's preferred price range.
That doesn't necessarily mean that the Lakers won't find a way to add Valanciunas, nor does it prevent them from pursuing a different player, but it's yet another blow in the ongoing Davis saga.
In NFL terms, the nature of Davis' role on defense is that of a middle linebacker. There are times when he'll blitz perimeter players, possessions during which he'll sit back in coverage and protect the rim, and even sequences that require him to mark a specific scoring threat.
It's the nature of the beast for an All-Defense mainstay who operates as a defensive anchor, but the lack of support he's received has rendered his Hall of Fame worthy contributions virtually irrelevant.
Even with Davis, the Lakers are No. 23 in the NBA in defensive rating. One can't help but connect the dots on that front, as one of Los Angeles' biggest problems is the lack of ideal rim protection when Davis journeys out to the perimeter—an event that's as much of a necessity as it is a choice.
While fellow do-it-all defenders such Giannis Antetkounmpo and Evan Mobley have help via proven centers in Brook Lopez and Jarrett Allen, Davis is effectively on his own.
By not only neglecting to help Davis, but outright ignoring his request for help for two consecutive seasons, the Lakers have dug the very hole they're trying to climb out of. They've potentially alienated their franchise player while simultaneously making his job significantly more difficult than it should be, which has inevitably limited the team's potential.
Until the Lakers support Davis both on and off the court by adding a noteworthy talent at center, they'll be wasting the precious final years of his prime.
