Lakers Land Potential Anthony Davis Replacement…Read more..

For the second consecutive season, the Los Angeles Lakers fell to a superior, more athletic team in a five-game first round playoff series.

This time, however, the Lakers’ issues stemmed more from a lack of interior resistance. In that department, L.A. is clearly hurting without 10-time All-Star center/power forward Anthony Davis, whom the club flipped to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for five-time All-NBA First Team guard Luka Doncic.

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Doncic is a terrific offensive player, but his defensive issues proved costly along the perimeter. And when the Minnesota Timberwolves penetrated the perimeter against Doncic and 21-time All-Star forward LeBron James, there was no one to stop them from getting whatever they could at the cup.

In a fresh mock of the 2025 NBA Draft from Sam Vecenie of The Athletic, the Lakers addressed that issue by adding a new big man.