2 Fresh Centers Hit the Market as Lakers Target Veteran Big Man

Two new centers have been added to the free agent pool where the Los Angeles Lakers hope to get at least one for next season.

Moe Wagner became an unrestricted free agent when the Orlando Magic declined his $11 million team option, ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania reports. However, the Magic retains Wagner’s Bird Rights, which means they can re-sign him above the salary cap.

According to Hoopshype’s Michael Scotto, the Magic “have interest” in re-signing Wagner, who is going to be one of the coveted free agents after a career season.

The 28-year-old German center posted career highs in points (12.9), 3-point percentage (.360) and rebounds (4.9) last season. Moe is the older brother of Magic star Franz Wagner.

Day’Rone Sharpe joined Wagner in the unrestricted free agent pool after the Brooklyn Nets did not extend a qualifying offer for the 23-year-old center. But the Nets are hoping to re-sign him with their cap flexibility, Scotto reports.

Sharpe was previously linked to the Lakers. But he is an undersized center at 6’9. Selected 29th overall in 2021, Sharpe is coming off a breakout season for the Nets, averaging career-highs across the board: 7.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 18.1 minutes.

Lakers’ Top Target

Getty Brook Lopez of the Milwaukee Bucks is a name to keep an eye on for the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency. 

Myles Turner and Brook Lopez headline the free agent center class this offseason. However, Turner is expected to re-sign with the Indiana Pacers after he played a key role in their Finals run, per multiple reports.

Lopez is perhaps the Lakers’ top free agent target.

The one-time Lakers center is an unrestricted free agent and there are rumblings he would not return to the Milwaukee Bucks, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.

“Numerous rival teams are bracing for the center-craving Los Angeles Lakers to make a run at luring Lopez away from the Bucks,” Fischer wrote on “The Stein Line” Substack newsletter.

Lopez averaged 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.8 assists in 80 games last season for the Milwaukee Bucks, where he won a championship in 2021. He shot 37.3% from the 3-point line.

Other notable centers available in the free agent market are Clint Capela, Kevon Looney and Al Horford and Luke Kornet.

Active in Trade Market

The Lakers could also revisit their trade interest in Onyeka Okongwu after the Atlanta Hawks acquired Kristaps Porzingis.

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Hawks’ starting center last season was on the Lakers’ radar as a potential lob partner for Luka Doncic.

“The Lakers called the Atlanta Hawks about their 6-10, athletic big man Onyeka Okongwu last season, sources told ESPN,” McMenamin wrote.

Okongwu seized the starting role in Atlanta midway through last season. The 24-year-old center who boasts a 7-foot-2 wingspan averaged 15.0 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists with 1.2 steals and nearly a block in 31.2 minutes across 40 starts last season.

“I feel overall I’ve always had the tools, but since I became a starter, it’s just putting it all together,” Okongwu said during the Hawks’ exit interviews.

The Lakers only have one first-round pick (2031 or 2023) and up to four pick swaps to dangle in a potential trade.

Lakers president Rob Pelinka vowed that there will be no stone unturned this offseason in their search for a starting center after they rescinded the Mark Williams trade at the deadline and JJ Redick lost faith in Jaxson Hayes in the playoffs.

Pelinka said they are “super active” in the trade market.

“We’re gonna turn over every stone and whatever resources the collective bargaining agreement gives us, we’re gonna use to the utmost,” Pelinka said. “That’s what we gotta do.”