Whether the Los Angeles Lakers do anything in the trade market before the deadline is one of the mysteries heading into February 6.
Anthony Davis has lit a fuse under the LA Lakers trade talk with his insistence he prefers to change positions.
Davis followed this up with a couple of dominant performances, showing the situation is not urgent, while former teammate Danny Green and former NBA executive Bob Myers have questioned whether deals are even possible.
Yet with the Lakers now 5-1 over the past two games, there is some reason to believe they should be aggressive.
Lakers told to avoid pair
The Lakers desire for a new center has been discussed for months, with LeBron James claimed to be a fan of Washington Wizards’ Jonas Valanciunas.
The Lakers have also been connected with Nikola Vucecic going back to 2023 – but it would require a big swing for the team to make a deal.
Per a discussion on ESPN’s The Hoop Collective, there are doubts over whether either Valanciunas or Vucevic would actually needed be what the team need.
Tim Macmahon said: “It would be a completely deranged thing for the Lakers to trade for Jonas Valanciunas. He can’t do anything on defense.
“Vucevic can’t guard anybody either. These guys are not good enough. The Lakers have had the same problem for years now.
“Really since they got rid of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the Russell Westbrook trade. They have no perimeter athleticism to guard anybody.
“They haven’t had any actual 3 and D players for years, that has been the problem with their team.”
It was a take backed by Brian Windhorst, who commented: “If you had Austin Reaves and Valanciunas on the court, teams would have two players they could attack.”
Warriors and Maverick could show interest
The Lakers’ need for a center has been made less urgent following the successful return to action of Jarred Vanderbilt.
Other teams in the NBA may need one more. The Dallas Mavericks have an injury crisis at the position right now with an injury to Dereck Lively.
The Mavs acquired Kylor Kelley from the South Bay Lakers, an emergency move reflective of their need.
Meanwhile the Golden State Warriors have been floated as suitors for Nikola Vucevic, amid the belief he could provide help for Stephen Curry.
Both teams are behind the Lakers in the Western Conference, and may be in more need of making a swing.