The Lakers were able to strengthen their team and keep their word to one of their most valuable players, Anthony Davis, by signing free agent Christian Wood.

According to NBA insider Dave McMenamin, Davis did not want to continue playing center, where he logged 99.9 percent of his minutes last season.

Wood tweeted that playing for the Lakers was something he’d “always wаnted to do,” McMenamin noted. Turns out, Anthony Davis, Los Angeles’ most valuable player, shares his aspirations.

ESPN reports that Davis requested more help at center so he wouldn’t have to play the five position as often during the season.

The Lakers have given AD additional opportunities to play at his favored power forward position by adding NOLA’s Jaxson Hayes to the mix and signing Wood to a vet minimum two-year deal.

The Lakers’ willingness to give Davis a three-year, $186 million agreement despite his ιnjury history shows how much they value his versatility as a player. Davis spent much of last season playing center.

With the additions of Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Jaxson Hayes, and Cam Reddish, the purple and gold did well in the recruiting department this offseason.

McMenamin is correct that the Lakers’ most crucial decisions were those that ensured the return of last season’s stars, but many fans would disagree.

“In addition to extending Davis, they re-signed the young trio of Austin Reaves (four years, $56 million), D’Angelo Russell (two years, $37 million), and Rui Hachimura (three years, $51 million),” McMenamin noted. Through the rest of the regular season, the play-in tournament, and the first two rounds of the playoffs, L.A. went 18-6 thanks to the play of their core. With LeBron James returning for his 21st season feeling refreshed, there is a lot of reason for hope in Lakerland.