The Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most storied franchises in the NBA, are grappling with a significant challenge in the 2024-2025 season: a lack of a true center, humorously referred to as a “vitamin C” deficiency (Center). This issue not only impacts their gameplay but also raises critical questions about the team’s roster-building strategy.
The Center Position Problem
In recent years, the Lakers have heavily relied on Anthony Davis, a versatile superstar who often plays as a power forward rather than a traditional center. While Davis can fill the center role, the absence of a classic “big man” puts the Lakers at a disadvantage against teams with dominant centers like Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets) or Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers). Recent games have exposed the Lakers’ struggles in the paint, both defensively and in rebounding battles.
Currently, the Lakers’ roster lists Jaxson Hayes and Christian Koloko as centers, but neither has met expectations. Hayes lacks consistency, while Koloko is too inexperienced to handle a significant role. This leaves the Lakers vulnerable, especially against teams that rely on strong center play.
The Lakers’ Gameplay and Strategy
Under head coach JJ Redick, the Lakers are attempting to build a modern playing style focused on three-point shooting and speed. However, the lack of a reliable center hinders their ability to maintain balance between offense and defense. While LeBron James and Anthony Davis remain the team’s cornerstones, the absence of a quality center to support them in the paint makes the Lakers an easy target for opponents to exploit.
Analysts suggest that the Lakers need a center who can provide strong defense, rebound effectively, and contribute offensively near the rim. Players like Deandre Ayton (Portland Trail Blazers) or Clint Capela (Atlanta Hawks) could be potential solutions, but acquiring them would require sacrificing valuable assets from the current roster.
Possible Solutions for the Lakers
To address the “vitamin C deficiency,” the Lakers have several options:
Player Trade: The Lakers could use draft picks or young players to trade for a quality center. However, their limited salary cap space and NBA regulations make this a challenging endeavor.
Develop Internal Talent: Investing in Jaxson Hayes or Christian Koloko through intensive coaching could be a long-term solution, but it’s unlikely to yield immediate results.
Free Agent Signings: The current free-agent market lacks high-quality centers, but the Lakers could explore short-term options to patch up their roster.
Conclusion
The lack of a true center remains a pressing issue for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2024-2025 season. With ambitions of returning to the NBA’s elite, the team must urgently find a way to address this “vitamin C” deficiency. Whether the Lakers can overcome this weakness and compete with the league’s top teams will depend on the strategic decisions of the coaching staff and their flexibility in the trade market in the coming months.