The Los Angeles Lakers' recent trade of Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks has reshaped their roster, creating a gap in the frontcourt that was evident during the playoffs. The Lakers have struggled without a true center, leading to a shift towards a perimeter-focused style that failed to hold up against teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, who capitalized on their weaknesses in interior defense and rebounding.

In a bid to regain competitive balance, the Lakers are actively searching for a powerful big man to complement their star duo of LeBron James and Luka Doncic. This search has been compounded by the impressive emergence of Ivica Zubac, who, after being traded from the Lakers to the Clippers, has become a standout player in the league. Zubac has credited his development partially to his time with the Lakers, including valuable lessons learned from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His performance statistics, including averaging 16.8 points and 12.6 rebounds with All-Defensive honors, underscore the missed opportunity for the Lakers to retain him.