Nico Harrison’s decision to acquire Anthony Davis back in February will likely force the Dallas Mavericks to make significant roster changes over the next year. Davis has stated on multiple occasions that he prefers to play power forward.
Nine days before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks, Anthony Davis told ESPN that he wanted the Los Angeles Lakers front office to acquire a center.
“I think we need another big,” Davis told ESPN’s Shams Charania this week. “I feel like I’ve always been at my best when I’ve been the 4, having a big out there.”
Anthony Davis’ skill set
Anthony Davis’ request makes roster construction more challenging for the team as they can only acquire one type of center to maximize his skill set. Over the past five seasons, Davis has excelled around the basket on the offensive side of the floor. He has averaged 10.2 points per game in the restricted area, shooting 75.4% on 6.8 attempts per game.
Anthony Davis gets into the restricted area in two different ways: via a post-up or as a rollman. He has spent 16.5% of his offensive positions in the post, averaging 3.8 per game. Davis has complimented his post-ups by spending 18.9% of his offensive position as a rollman, averaging 4.2 per game.
Anthony Davis’s efficiency significantly decreases outside of a restricted area, shooting 40.4% on 10.4 attempts per game. Anthony’s still set indicates that the Dallas Mavericks should pair him with a stretch five.
Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively
Unfortunately, the current crop of Dallas Maverick centers lacks a three-point shooting skill set. Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively have only attempted a maximum of 4% of their shots from behind the arc and made 0% of their shots. Consequently, opposing teams will have at least two big men near the basket. As a result, Anthony Davis will have a harder time thriving offensively.
Davis and Gafford were standing in front of the basket with about four minutes to go in the first quarter of the playing game versus the Sacramento Kings. Their decision also led to three Sacramento Kings players standing in front of the basket.
Consequently, Mavericks guard Max Christie had to settle for a mid-range jumper because there was no rain to get to the basket. Anthony Davis would share the court with Gafford and Lively for 12.3 minutes per game in five appearances.
The two big men lineup contributed to 54% of Davis’s field goal attempts being contested as he averaged 9.1 per game. Davis made 51.5% of his contested field goal attempts. Although those numbers are good, he performs better with a stretch five alongside him.
Anthony Davis with a stretch five
During the 2020-21 season, Davis played alongside Marc Gasol. At the time, Gasol had a career three-point Percentage of 36% on 1.3 attempts per game. They shared the court for 15.7 minutes per game in 30 appearances.
The lineup contributed to Davis slightly lowering his contested field goal attempt to 53% of the time, averaging 8.9 per game. A three-point shooting center forces the defense to make a decision.
They can have two defenders close to the basket to stop Anthony Davis, leading to a wide-open three. On the other hand, the opposing team can guard Anthony Davis with one defender to take away the three. As a result, Anthony Davis would have more space to get a good shot.
Brook Lopez
Anthony Davis’ skill set will force the Dallas Mavericks to look for a scratched five by midpoint next season. The Mavericks can target Brook Lopez via trade to be their starting center next season.
Over the past five seasons, Brook has taken 46.1% of his shots from behind the arc, averaging 4.6 per game. He converted 36.4% of those attempts.
A realistic package for Brook Lopez can be Daniel Gafford and a protected first-round pick.
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