The Los Angeles Lakers' pursuit of a big man has been one of the most trending topics in the offseason. After a failed run in the postseason, the Lakers' shortcomings were made blatantly clear. To address this, however, the Purple and Gold have shown an aggressive approach to finding a suitable center.
Lakers GM Rob Pelinka already presented the ideal profile for the qualities the team is looking for in a center. While floor-spacing ability has been listed, the primary qualities the Lakers need are athletic centers who can act as rim protectors.
With the template in place, the Lakers were linked to several players, from free agents like Brook Lopez and Clint Capela to potential trade targets like Nic Claxton and Daniel Gafford. With the intent of building around Luka Doncic, the Lakers could benefit from signing a number of players. However, the pursuit of the same has not been easy.
In light of this, Orange County Register's Khobi Price presented a list of realistic candidates that the Lakers could turn their attention to in the offseason.
Goga Bitadze
Price named Orlando Magic reserve center Goga Bitadze as one of the most ideal big men for the Lakers. The Magic have no shortage of big men on their roster, and because of this, the Georgian found himself on the bench more often than not.
The Magic center is a near-seven-footer, at 6'11". Although he isn't the most mobile big man, he showcased a lot of potential as a solid presence under the rim. His ability to rebound and clog the paint could be immensely valuable to the Lakers, given the current state of their roster.
Bitadze averaged 7.2 points and 6.6 rebounds on a highly efficient 61.1% shooting from the field. Considering that he put up these averages in only 20.4 minutes per game, the Lakers could see a lot of productivity out of the Georgian if they can acquire him.
It would be important to note that Bitadze's addition would not completely address the Lakers' need for size in their frontcourt. However, he would prove to be a solid rotation player if given the opportunity.
Day'Ron Sharpe
Brooklyn Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe has also been viewed as a likely candidate to join the Lakers next season. As a restricted free agent, the Purple and Gold may have to get creative to acquire him. But considering his skill set, he could be a great addition to the team.
Sharpe is a young and athletic big man. Standing at 6'11" tall, Sharpe features all the necessary tools to be the right addition next to Doncic.
As a mobile big man, the 23-year-old has shown his capability rolling towards the basket while coming off screens. At 265 lbs, he also boasts a very sturdy frame, allowing him to hold his own on the low block without getting shoved out of the way.
Meanwhile, his athleticism makes him a very potent lob threat in the dunker's spot. Given Doncic's play style, Sharpe is bound to feast on hesitant big men defending pick-and-rolls.
The Nets center recorded an average of 7.9 points and 6.6 rebounds last season while only averaging 18.1 minutes per game. His productivity could do wonders for the Lakers' rotation.
Sharpe has been quite a valuable player for the Nets coming off the bench. Should the Lakers fail to acquire Claxton, the opportunities for making an offer to sign the 23-year-old are always present.
Luke Kornet
An interesting target for the Lakers in the offseason may be Boston Celtics big man Luke Kornet. Kornet, who has even won a title with the Celtics, will be heading into the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
Kornet is a bit of a move away from the trend in the search for the ideal Lakers' center. At 7'2", he would certainly be the tallest player on the team. This has major implications for their rebounding and rim protection.
He recorded an average of 6.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 66.8% from the field. Considering that he was the Celtics' second big off the bench, he only notched an average of 18.6 minutes per game, but his contributions on the defensive end were telling.
Kornet had a highlight performance in the Celtics' second-round series against the Knicks. In a crucial Game 5 at home, the 29-year-old racked up 10 points, nine rebounds, and a monster seven blocks to help his team secure a win. Although Boston found themselves losing the series all the same, the big man stood out for them.
Although he may not be able to hold his own against most big men in the starting lineup of any team, he could be a valuable addition to the Lakers' big man rotation.
Larry Nance Jr.
One of Price's key mentions included former Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. The 32-year-old was with the Atlanta Hawks last season, but like Kornet, he will also be available to sign as a free agent.
Nance Jr. could be a great addition for the Lakers. During his time in the league, he had displayed tremendous athletic ability, paired with solid effort on the rebounding glass as well as on defense. Although he is undersized, he has shown a lot of upside in playing small-ball center.
The Hawks forward notched an average of 8.5 points and 4.3 rebounds in the 2024-25 season. He also recorded shooting splits of 51.6% from the field and a highly efficient 44.7% from beyond the arc.
In many ways, Nance fits the template of the floor-spacing big who can act as a rim protector. The team had also attempted to bring Nance over if Atlanta bought out his contract. Unfortunately, this didn't happen, forcing the franchise to move forward with signing Alex Len.
Considering his experience of being a Laker early in his career, and his experiences playing alongside LeBron James on the Cavs, he could be an extremely valuable addition should he return to the Purple and Gold.
Precious Achiuwa
New York Knicks big man Precious Achiuwa may also prove to be a great pick-up for Los Angeles in the offseason. At 25 years old, Achiuwa is a young and athletic center with a real nose for rebounding. Although he is undersized, like Nance, he provides a lot of energy off the bench.
Achiuwa is a player who boasts a high work rate on both ends of the floor. While he only played 57 games for the Knicks last season, he recorded an average of 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game on 50.2% shooting from the field. While playing only 20.5 minutes per game last season, he showed a lot of versatility in being able to switch defensive assignments.
His athleticism brings a lot of flexibility to the roster. While being able to hold his own as a small-ball center, he remains a viable lob threat, while also being a great outlet option in transition situations.
The 25-year-old may be a genuine under-the-radar pick-up for the Lakers. Heading into the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, the Purple and Gold could very easily sign him on a lucrative deal to bolster their frontcourt depth.
The options presented by Price simply address the Lakers' need for depth in their big man rotation. Considering their title aspirations, none of these players can flourish as a starter on the team.
With the likes of Jaxson Hayes potentially headed out, the Purple and Gold will have virtually no centers on their team this season. Hence, the primary need is to acquire a big man who can take up the starting spot, while also pairing well with Doncic and James.
