When the Los Angeles Lakers swung the shocking Luka Doncic trade, their biggest remaining weakness was finding a starting center to make up for the loss of Anthony Davis. Of course, the Lakers knew that getting a new starting center was a need, so they executed a trade for Mark Williams, but that deal got nixed when the Los Angeles medical staff took issue with the 23-year-old’s injury history.
That left the Lakers’ starting lineup incomplete, yet the talent of LeBron James plus Doncic was still strong enough to carry them to the postseason. However, now that the offseason is here, the Lakers have a chance to go shopping again, and a long list of center targets has already emerged thanks to Anthony Irwin of Clutch Points.
The Lakers are reportedly planning to trade for their new starting center, and those targets include Brooklyn’s Nic Claxton, Portland’s Robert Williams, and Utah’s Walker Kessler. However, even if they do trade for a new starting center, the Lakers could still double dip at the position adn sign a new backup center in free agency.
If so, some of the Lakers’ free agent targets could include Brook Lopez and Clint Capela, both experienced options whose best days are behind them. Yet, they’re smart and capable enough to provide some high-level minutes in the event of an injury or during the postseason as a key part of coach JJ Redick’s rotation.
“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. It’s a solid plan that they’re considered likely to be able to execute.”
Clutch Points on Lakers’ center targets
If the Lakers could add one of their trade targets to find a new starter and then bounce back and sign a new backup from the list above, their big man rotation would be upgraded significantly over last season’s cast.