AD wants Lakers to add center: I'm at my best when I'm at the 4

Anthony Davis believes adding a center would benefit himself and the Los Angeles Lakers' title hopes.

"I think we need another big," Davis told ESPN's Shams Charania. "I feel like I've always been at my best when I've been the 4 and having a big out there.

"We know it worked when we won a championship with JaVale (McGee) and Dwight (Howard) at the 5 and I'm at the 4."

Los Angeles boasted one of the NBA's top defenses during its 2020 championship campaign. The trio of Davis, McGee, and Howard lifted the Lakers to a league lead in blocks and eighth in points in the paint allowed.

It was also Davis' highest-scoring season in a Lakers uniform as he posted 26.1 points on 50.3% shooting.

"I think our '19-20 team was like the perfect construction of a team," Davis said. "We had shooters. We had dogs defensively. We had scorers. Everybody knew their role ... We are (a couple pieces away). I really feel like we are."

Davis has primarily served as the Lakers' starting center with Jaxson Hayes and Christian Koloko splitting the remaining minutes at the 5.

Los Angeles will get more frontcourt depth when Jarred Vanderbilt returns to the lineup Saturday against the Golden State Warriors. The 6-foot-8 forward made only 29 appearances in the previous campaign and hasn't appeared in a game this season because of a foot strain suffered last February.

The Lakers acquired Vanderbilt from the Utah Jazz in Februrary 2023, and he subsequently started at the 5 throughout the club's run to the West finals.