The Los Angeles Lakers might consider keeping Anthony Davis at power forward, especially with his impressive performance for the USA Team. Davis has long preferred playing the four, but the Lakers have yet to find a suitable full-time center to accommodate this.
Paul Kasabian of Bleacher Report suggests that the Lakers should trade for Wendell Carter Jr. from the Orlando Magic. Kasabian notes that Carter could be the solution to their backup center issue, as he averaged 11.0 points on 52.5 percent shooting and 6.9 rebounds last season. Adding Carter might mean losing D’Angelo Russell, but the Lakers could risk losing him in free agency next offseason anyway.
**Lakers Monitoring Carter**
The Lakers have limited spending power due to their cap situation and must rely on trades to improve their roster. According to Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports, an NBA executive said the Lakers are “monitoring” Carter, along with many other teams. Carter, who is entering the third year of his four-year, $50 million contract, could be a valuable addition.
**Carter Could Fit Nicely Next to Davis**
Carter could potentially start at center, allowing Davis to move to power forward. This would let Davis focus on other aspects of his game and help keep him healthy. With both Davis and Carter strong on defense, the Lakers could have 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 center with a three-point shooting threat would open up the Lakers’ offense, which had the fewest three-point attempts per game last year.
The Lakers’ quiet offseason has raised concerns, but trading for Carter could address some of the doubts surrounding their roster.
