Lakers Rumors: Trade for Big 'Even More of a Priority' After Anthony Davis' Comments

The Los Angeles Lakers have made adding a big man "even more of a priority" after Anthony Davis' recent comments regarding his desire to see the team acquire a starting center so he can play power forward.

Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported the news.

"Davis has made his stance known," Buha wrote. "He wants another starting-caliber center on the roster. Adding another big has become even more of a priority for the Lakers, according to team and league sources."

Last week, Davis sat down with ESPN's Shams Charania and said the following.

"I think we need another big," Davis remarked. "I feel like I've always been at my best when I've been the 4, having a big out there."

As Buha noted, the Lakers need some more help down low, especially when Davis is out. AD played just 10 minutes in a 118-104 road loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday after suffering an abdominal muscle strain. He will be out at least a week, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

With Davis, the Lakers struggled. Buha provided the details.

"The 76ers were without Joel Embiid and Paul George, among other rotation players, and were mostly undersized," Buha wrote. "But that didn't matter, as Tyrese Maxey waltzed to the rim undeterred, the Sixers grabbed 12 offensive rebounds and Philly controlled the paint."

Philadelphia notably outscored L.A. 56-46 in the paint and had 12 offensive rebounds to the Lakers' four.

The Lakers are fifth in the Western Conference with a 26-19 record. It's imperative that they do everything they can to improve the roster and take advantage of its window with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

As far as potential bigs go, Buha said that Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz and Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers both make sense for L.A.

Kessler, 23, is averaging 11.3 points on 73.3 percent shooting, 11.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. Turner, 28, is posting 15.4 points on 47.9 percent shooting, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per outing.

Both would be great defensive presences around Davis, helping a Lakers team that hasn't fared particularly well on that end (22nd in efficiency, per Basketball-Reference).

For now, the Lakers have to traverse through their schedule without Davis. He'll presumably miss the next three games, all road matchups against the Washington Wizards, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers. He could very well be getting some reinforcements by the time he returns though, or shortly thereafter.