The Los Angeles Lakers have been very busy this offseason trying to acquire a starting-caliber center to pair with Luka Dončić.
According to Anthony Irwin of Clutchpoints, the Lakers have held trade talks for three centers on the market.
“Sources close to the team reiterated that the internal plan is to trade for their starting center – sources say they’ve held conversations with other teams about Nic Claxton, Robert Williams, Walker Kessler and others – then, ideally, use the taxpayer midlevel on his backup – Brook Lopez and Clint Capela are the two names most often linked to the Lakers,” Irwin wrote.
“It’s a solid plan that they’re considered likely to be able to execute. But, because of their clear and desperate need at the position, such an approach is going to be a lot more complicated than it would’ve been had they not neglected the position the past couple of seasons.”
Lopez will certainly get more than the $5.7 million taxpayer MLE in the free agent market. Capela is more likely to be in that range. However, will Capela accept that deal and a backup role to play 12 to 15 minutes per game if he gets the same offer and a bigger role elsewhere?
Claxton, Williams and Kessler have been linked to the Lakers since last year, even before they acquired Dončić for Anthony Davis, who wanted to play next to a center. But they are not as under pressure as before.
Lakers Will ‘Look Different’ Next Season
The Lakers are without a center.
Their starting center post-Luka trade was Jaxson Hayes, a career backup whom coach JJ Redick did not trust in the playoffs. Hayes is entering unrestricted free agency.
So, the Lakers need to get a starting center and a quality backup to compete in a stacked Western Conference.
That’s their top priority this offseason on top of Dončić’s extension and bringing back Dorian Finney-Smith, who can decline his player option and enter unrestricted free agency.
Lakers president Rob Pelinka made that very clear during his end-of-season news conference.
“When you make a huge trade at the deadline where you trade your starting center for a point guard, of course, that’s gonna create a significant issue with the roster, and we saw some of them play out,” Pelinka told reporters. “This offseason, one of our primary goals is gonna be to add size in our frontcourt at the center position, and that’s just gonna be a part of the equation.
“We have multiple free agents, too. Obviously, those questions will be answered in July and in August, but we know we have a lot of work to do on the roster. It’ll look different next year for sure.”
Rui Hachimura for John Collins?
GettyRui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives past Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz.
In a separate report, Irwin revealed the Lakers have offered Japanese forward Rui Hachimura to land Utah Jazz‘s high-flying forward John Collins.
“Sources close to the Los Angeles Lakers say that internally, they have long been fans of John Collins, who has the ability to stretch the floor both as a deep threat or someone who can finish well above the rim. Many within the Lakers organization believe Collins would be an especially great fit alongside Luka Dončić. Since their season ended, they’ve held a few conversations with the Utah Jazz to try to land the 27-year-old big man, with Rui Hachimura often the centerpiece of the deal,” Irwin wrote.
Collins has a $26.6 million player option for next season. On the other hand, Hachimura is entering the final year of his three-year, $51 million extension with the Lakers, making him a flight-risk next summer.
Irwin, however, noted that nothing is imminent at this point. Hachimura is one of the Lakers’ trade chips to solve their big hole in the middle. Collins is not a true center but he’s more of a lob threat than Hachimura, which Dončić prefers to play with.
