Now that the Lakers have traded for Luka Doncic, they must find a center, despite having few appealing possibilities.
The Lakers’ intention to buy during the trade deadline was the worst-kept secret. It was the best-kept secret that they were working on a mega-deal to get Luka Doncic.
Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ vice president of basketball operations, was able to complete a deal to secure the Lakers’ future star, and reportedly persuaded Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison to accept less than he was asking for.
However, the change exacerbated an already pressing need for a center overhaul. The Lakers now rely only on Jaxson Hayes, as opposed to Anthony Davis.
The Athletic’s Fred Katz, Joe Vardon, and Sam Amick discussed the franchise’s next steps on Monday, as it attempts to finalize its roster before the February 6 trade deadline.
The Lakers could use a big guy to protect the paint, but they aren’t interested in many centers with well-known names, according to league sources. They will not give up their greatest draft asset for a role player, just as they would not part with Dončić’s 2031 first-round pick.
Prior to the Luka transaction, we heard names associated with the Lakers, like Wizards centers Jonas Valancunias and Nikola Vucevic of the Bulls.
Valancunias is having a good season in Washington, scoring 11.5 points and grabbing 8.1 rebounds per game. Vucevic is scoring a lot in Chicago, at 19.9 points per game, but they, like the Wizards, aren’t playing very important basketball.
However, with only one tradeable first-round pick remaining and the Lakers’ roster looking drastically different, neither player makes sense.
These are slow-footed, offensive-minded big men, and with Davis gone, they no longer complement the other players on the team. The biggest thing they need is an upgrade from their current healthy center, Jaxson Hayes.
When you look at Hayes’ core abilities, you will notice that he is an athletic big who can score near the rim and provide vertical spacing.
So, while the Lakers should be a fun offensive team now, they’ve lost AD’s elite defensive rim protection, which no one else on the roster can replicate.
The search for a center to join Los Angeles will continue until a trade is completed or the deadline expires.
Given their unwillingness to give up a first-round pick to meet this need thus far, don’t anticipate them to trade their 2031 first for a center until a very excellent one becomes available.
Hopefully, despite the limited options and dwindling assets, the Lakers can still locate a quality center to add depth to this position.
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