As fans eagerly wait for the Lakers to trade for a center, one insider says they can cross a rival’s starter off their wish list.
Don’t Expect Lakers to Acquire 7’2” Rival
Woike: Lakers Not Eyeing Porzingis Trade
According to The Athletic’s Dan Woike, the Lakers won’t swoop in for Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis anytime soon.
“One thing that won’t happen — another Dončić-Kristaps Porziņģis pairing. There’s no indication that anyone wants to see that sequel.”
It’s a different picture from the one painted by ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, who noted LA is among “10-12 teams” interested in the Latvian big man.
There are certainly cases for and against Porzingis donning the purple and gold. The pros? He immediately solves the Lakers’ issues of size and shooting, all at a vital position of need for LA. At 29 years old, he averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 48.3% from the field and 41.3% from deep. The cons? He only played 42 games due to injuries and is coming off a mystery illness that rendered him ineffective in the playoffs, where he put up 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds in 11 games (7 starts).
Aside from his lackluster production and concerning history, his previous stint with Luka Doncic didn’t go so well, either.
On JJ Redick’s podcast, formerly called “The Old Man and the Three,” Porzingis acknowledged there was tension between him and Doncic. “But I think we both tried to make it work,” he added. “I think, communication and maturity on both our parts should have been better.” Doncic echoed a similar sentiment one month later.
All of that would understandably be enough for the Lakers to pass on Porzingis.
Other Trade Targets Also in Limbo
The Lakers’ options are growing slim as rival teams lock up their own starters. Daniel Gafford—once considered a target earlier this summer—will sign a three-year, $60 million extension with the Mavericks, who aren’t expected to deal with the Lakers after the Doncic debacle in February. By that logic, Laker fans shouldn’t wait for Dereck Lively II to come over, either. He and Gafford split time as the starting center for Dallas, and the Mavs are likely holding onto both of them for the long haul.
Adding insult to injury, Walker Kessler has been “unavailable for some time,” according to insider Marc Stein. He also noted that any indication that the Lakers are suitors for John Collins is “a mischaracterization.”
All in all, it seems like a bleak sight for a team that’s desperate for help in the middle. However, Woike and Stein say the Lakers are prioritizing the position, with the former writing, “… there’s urgency to find an answer — either short- or long-term.”
Such urgency is why the Lakers shouldn’t be counted out in the offseason. Now armed with new ownership that shares a commitment to success, there’s no doubt the front office will be working tirelessly over the next few months. The team has clearly shown a knack for pulling off surprise transactions, and this summer should be no different.
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