Los Angeles Lakers: Time Is Now For Ed Davis

ByJackson Sanders|

Dec 30, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Ed Davis (21) during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Lakers won 111-103. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers‘ starting lineup is clearly in flux. After Kobe Bryant‘s exit (shoulder), coach Byron Scott heaped playing time on guard Jordan Clarkson. Now, with starting center Jordan Hill (hip) out for around two weeks, it’s likely another youngster will get another opportunity for increased playing time.

With Ryan Kelly already starting, and Scott seemingly insistent on making him a small forward, all eyes turn to offseason signee Ed Davis and in-season acquisition Tarik Black. Davis has started 24 games so far for the Lakers this season, but he came off the bench Wednesday in favor of Black, an undrafted rookie out of Kansas who excels at bringing energy and crashing the boards.

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Those two characteristics could have been used to describe what Ed Davis brought for the Lakers at the beginning of the season before recently falling out of favor with the head coach, leading to his return to the bench unit after mixed results as a starter.

Now, with Jordan Hill out, it was expected that Davis would challenge for a second chance of extended playing time, proving that the Lakers (or any other team) would benefit from locking him long-term when he inevitably opts out of his bargain bin deal this summer.

At age 26, it’s quite clear what Ed Davis is as a basketball player: an efficient bench big who grabs rebounds and swats opponents shots, wrapped in a limited offensive game. For most teams there is a role for this type of player, and for Davis this means there is money to be made; as long as he can start to make a bigger impact.

When Byron Scott named Tarik Black the starter for Wednesday’s game at the Milwaukee Bucks, it seemed as though the hopes for that type of impact would take a serious step backwards. However, Ed Davis ended up playing 33 minutes, posting 20 rebounds in the overtime contest.

He added in a blocked shot, and a mere seven points, but rebounding the basketball with force will be where Davis ends up thriving in the NBA, with the Lakers or otherwise.

If Ed Davis can keep these types of performances up by crashing the offensive glass (he had nine offensive rebounds against Milwaukee) and making the most out of the extended minutes he should be afforded by the Lakers, he should be able to opt out of his modest contract with the team and parlay it into a big payday.

In fact, that type of deal might even come from the same team he suits up for right now considering the team’s need for rim protection, Davis’ age, and the boatload of cap space the Lakers will be looking at this summer.

Perhaps he could even be traded to a contender as soon as this season, given his flexibility and desirable skill set for a team in need of bench size (see: Dallas Mavericks).

If Davis goes back to meager rebounding, fouling on defense, and basically taking up space on the court? He could find himself back in the same situation his was last off-season, looking for work with very little in terms of offers. Teams know he’s been given an opportunity on a terrible team, and if he fails to take advantage of it twice it should be a very telling sign.

In many ways, the time is now for Ed Davis.

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