The Los Angeles Lakers might be considering a move to have Anthony Davis play the power forward position, inspired by his performance with the USA Team. Davis, who has previously expressed his preference for playing the four, looks in top form. This could motivate the Lakers to find a full-time center to enable Davis to play his preferred position.
In the past, the Lakers haven’t found the right player to allow Davis to switch to power forward. However, Paul Kasabian of Bleacher Report suggests that trading for Wendell Carter Jr. of the Orlando Magic could solve this issue.
“The Lakers don’t have a clear option at the backup 5 right now. Carter, who has two seasons remaining on a four-year, $50 million deal, could very well be that answer,” Kasabian wrote on July 16. “He averaged 11.0 points on 52.5 percent shooting and 6.9 rebounds last season as a starter for the Magic. Adding Carter could potentially mean that the Lakers lose Russell, but they may see him leave for nothing next offseason regardless of when he hits free agency. Carter could potentially fill a bigger need with the Lakers needing more frontcourt depth.”
Lakers are ‘Monitoring’ Carter
With the Lakers yet to make significant moves in free agency due to limited spending power, they may need to turn to trades to improve their roster. They seem to be exploring this option.
According to Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports, an NBA executive mentioned that the Lakers are “monitoring” Carter, along with many other teams.
“Fairly young, probably a little undervalued because of his red flags (injuries), and still tapping into his skill set,” the exec said on July 10. “The contract is right, it makes sense for them. That’s a guy they’re monitoring, but a lot of teams are.”
Carter is entering the third year of his four-year, $50 million contract, making it relatively easy for the Lakers to match his salary. The main question is what the Orlando Magic would want in return, which could complicate acquiring the 25-year-old.
Carter Could Fit Nicely Next to Davis
Acquiring another center wouldn’t just provide a backup. Carter could start at center, allowing Davis to move to power forward. Davis could still play the five when needed, but this move would let him focus on other aspects of his game and potentially stay healthier.
Pairing Davis, an elite defender, with Carter, who is strong defensively, would give the Lakers one of the best frontcourt defenses in the NBA. Offensively, Carter averaged 11.0 points and shot 37.4% from 3-point range on 3.1 attempts per game in 2023-24. Adding a 3-point shooting threat from the center position could open up the Lakers’ offense, which attempted the fewest 3-pointers per game last year.
The Lakers’ quiet offseason has raised some concerns, but trading for Carter could alleviate some doubts and significantly bolster their roster.
