We are two weeks away from the start of the 2024-25 NBA season. The preseason is in full swing and the Los Angeles Lakers are trying to find the right lineup combinations for the regular season. New head coach JJ Redick is evaluating his roster as the Lakers are desperately hoping to take a significant step forward.
As part of the planning for next season, Redick revealed a surprising new role for Anthony Davis. According to The Athletic's Jovan Buha, the first-time head coach likes to use Davis as a power forward and have him switch onto perimeter players.
NBA News: Lakers Prefer Anthony Davis at the Four
This is surprising for two reasons. One, the Lakers don't have a viable center to play next to Davis. The only healthy big man on the roster other than AD is Jaxson Hayes. Christian Wood, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Christian Koloko are all injured to start the season. And Hayes is a terrible fit next to Davis.
Hayes struggled as a backup center last year. He doesn't provide much on either end of the floor except as a lob threat and a transition finisher. He can't shoot and space the floor and isn't a very good rim protector. Pairing him next to Davis and playing extended minutes will create serious spacing issues for the Lakers.
Secondly, having Davis out on the perimeter isn't the best use of his skill set. Davis can obviously guard anyone and everyone on the floor but he is at his best near the basket as a rim protector. Having him guard out to the three-point line will tire him out and reduce his effectiveness.
If the Lakers had a shooting big man who could space the floor, playing Davis as a power forward would make sense. However, the Lakers are already light on shooting in other positions, so they have no choice but to have Davis as their center so that they can get as much spacing as possible from other players.
