Lakers Offered $51 Million Forward for High-Flying Partner for Luka Doncic
The Los Angeles Lakers have been looking for a center as a lob partner for their newest star Luka Dončić.
But it appears they are not just restricting themselves to centers.
According to Anthony Irwin of Clutchpoints, 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, 27, is bouncier than Hachimura, who has the better jumper. The Jazz forward shot 62.8% near the basket, above the 59.7% league average this past season. Hachimura actually shot better, averaging 63.2% but Collins beat him in volumes by making 21 more shots in the restricted zone despite playing 17 games less.
Collins played only 40 games for the Jazz, who tanked for the draft. He averaged 19.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and one steal and block each. He shot 39.9% from the 3-point line too.
In contrast, Hachimura averaged 13.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 41.3% from the 3-point line in 57 games for the Lakers in the regular season.
Collins has $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.
Adding a Center Remains Top Priority
Irwin noted that the Lakers remained focus on adding a center amid their trade talks for Collins.
“If the Lakers were to include one of their expiring contracts (Gabe Vincent or Maxi Kleber), the contracts would match up almost perfectly, even to the extent to where the Lakers would be taking back less than they send out and would thus avoid a hard cap at the first apron. Nothing is particularly imminent at this moment, as the Lakers are still focused first and foremost on trading for their starting center,” Irwin wrote.
The Lakers remain interested in Utah’s starting center Walker Kessler, according to Irwin.
Kessler is costlier to get than Collins.
Leading to the trade deadline, the Jazz put a high asking price for Walker.
Bleacher Report’s salary cap expert Eric Pincus reported at that time that were Dalton Knecht and the Lakers’ two first-round picks.
“League sources believe the asking price for a cheaper alternative like Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz is Dalton Knecht and the Lakers’ 2029 and 2031 first-round picks,” Pincus wrote.
One of those picks — 2029 — is already gone. That was already included in the Dončić deal. The Lakers only have one tradable first-round pick left which makes all the more impossible to acquire Kessler barring the Jazz lowering their asking price.
Luka Dončić Committed to Lakers Despite Change of Ownership
Dončić re-affirmed his commitment to the Lakers despite the franchise getting sold to a new majority owner.
On Wednesday, June 18, the Buss family sold their majority stakes to LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter for a staggering $10 billion valuation.
The Slovenian star quickly puts to bed questions about his long-term future with the Lakers following the transfer of ownership.
“The Lakers are an amazing organization. I’m looking forward to meeting Mark and excited about the future. I am also grateful to Jeanie and the Buss family for welcoming me to LA, and I’m happy that Jeanie will continue to be involved. I look forward to working with both of them to win championships!” Dončić posted on X.
The Buss family will keep a minority share of the team, just over 15%, for a period of time, according to ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania, to keep Jeanie as the team governor for the foreseeable future.
Dončić is eligible to extend for four years, worth $229 million.
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