A strategic move by the Lakers. Their star big man requires some deserved rest. Anthony Davis has been a rock for the Lakers this season, suiting up for 31 of the Lakers’ first 32 games, despite dealing with a variety of injuries. One of the most notable was an eye poke earlier this season, which could’ve kept anyone sidelined for longer. Despite the injury, he powered through the holiday stretch.

AD is getting a break Thursday night, as he sits out the Lakers’ matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers. The reason? He’s resting his sprained left ankle. This will only be his second missed game of the season, so you know he’s been battling through some pain to stay on the court. And his replacement has been announced.

Tonight, with Anthony Davis sidelined, JJ Redick announced that Jaxson Hayes will take the starting spot. Christian Koloko is also likely to see some action off the bench. The 40-year-old coach also shared that the 9x All-Star was feeling some “lingering soreness” in his ankle after the Christmas Day game. On the other hand, Gabe Vincent is listed as day-to-day because of an oblique issue.

In his 13th season in the NBA, Davis is putting up impressive numbers. He’s averaging 26.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game.

But the Lakers’ depth issues just keep piling up. They’ve been short-handed all season, the absentees list starting with Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wood being out since training camp. On top of that, backup center Jaxson Hayes has barely seen the floor, playing just one game since his ankle injury back in November.

It’ll be interesting to see what moves they make next.

The Lakers need a Center so that Anthony Davis can go back to his preferred position

The Lakers’ 122-110 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday has dropped them to 18-14, despite Austin Reaves’ impressive 35-point performance.

Cleveland’s strategy? Attack the rim—hard. Even with Anthony Davis, one of the best rim protectors in the game, they weren’t deterred. Darius Garland took control with 14 assists, slicing through the defense and setting up his big men, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. They combined for 47 points on 71.4% shooting, showing how effective Cleveland’s inside game was.

While AD is a generational shot-blocker, the Lakers’ defense is lacking beyond him. Garland exploited this by drawing Davis away from the rim or getting him to mistime his blocks, allowing the Cavs to capitalize.

This is why many believe GM Rob Pelinka will make a move before the February 6 trade deadline, seeking a proven shot-blocker to pair with Davis. Enter Nic Claxton. At 25, the 6-foot-11 center could be the perfect addition to Los Angeles’ frontcourt.

Claxton is no stranger to defense—he finished top-10 in the DPOY voting last season and led the league with a 70.5% field goal percentage. His length and versatility on defense could be the perfect complement to AD, giving LeBron James another lob threat. With Claxton at center, AD could go back to playing power forward, his preferred position.

The Lakers may need to send Brooklyn salary fillers like Vincent or Vanderbilt, along with draft picks or young prospects like Jalen Hood-Schifino, to seal the deal.