In an interview with Shams Charania of ESPN, Anthony Davis made it clear what he wants the Lakers to trade for ahead of the deadline

Anthony Davis and LeBron James are putting the full-court blitz on the Lakers front office ahead of the trade deadline.

After a report earlier in the week from Shams Charania of ESPN stated the team was losing faith in the front office to make a move, AD laid it out clearly himself.

In a sit-down interview with Charania that aired on Thursday, Davis said he wants the Lakers to trade for a center to mimic the look of the 2019-20 title-winning team.

“I think we need another big. I feel like I’ve always been at my best when I’ve been a four and having a big out there. We know it worked when we won a championship with JaVale and Dwight, them at the five and I’m at the four.”

Davis then went on to talk more about that team and it’s “perfect construction” to which he also revealed that he thinks this iteration of the Lakers is multiple pieces away.

AD: “I think our ‘19-20 team was like the perfect construction of a team. We had shooters, we had dogs defensively, we had scorers, everybody knew their role.”

Shams: “It sounds to me like you’re saying you guys are maybe a couple pieces away”

AD: “We are. We are, though. I really feel like we are”

I will say that it might be important to watch as this part could be interpreted multiple ways. While it felt like Charania was painting it in a negative light that they’re still multiple pieces away, AD’s response felt like him saying they were “only” a couple pieces away.

That one can be left up to interpretation, though.

What isn’t being left to interpret, however, is how LeBron and AD feel about this team moving forward. As the pair navigate another fairly healthy season, it’s clear they are not interested in the franchise’s future and want to win now, and who can blame them?

Neither player is likely going to be playing in 2031, which is one of the first round picks the Lakers can trade, and are much more concerned about the here and now.

Specifically, regarding AD, he’s made his feelings known about wanting to play next to a center multiple times now. While he’s been willing to play center, particularly in the big moments, he’s been adamant that he wants a big man next to him.

It’s also worth noting that AD talked about how perfect the construction of the 2019-20 team was, which included two centers that were defensive anchors. The Lakers have been linked to lots of big men in the trade market, but few of them can be described as defensive anchors.

And yes, I’m looking at you, Nikola Vucevic and Jonas Valančiūnas.

The name that is going to come up, then, is Walker Kessler from the Jazz. As a young big, he is very much a defensive anchor and could play alongside AD. He would also cost a good bit of draft capital, too.

The timing of this, though, is very important and strategic. The Lakers are two weeks out from the trade deadline and, now, the focus has shifted entirely to the front office.

Does vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka dare stand pat and go against the wishes of his two stars at the deadline? Can he survive doing so and watching the Lakers flounder out in the playoffs once more?

AD and LeBron are making their feelings clear. The ball is now in Rob’s court.