It’s no secret that the Lakers need a center, but who is the best fit for the team?
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Throughout his tenure with the Lakers, Anthony Davis consistently requested for frontcourt depth. Even days before getting traded for Luka Dončić, he spoke with ESPN’s Shams Charania and expressed his desire for the team to trade for a center.
Now, with AD gone, the problem persists even more.
President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka has made it clear that adding a big is a priority this summer. For this week’s SB Nation Reacts poll, we are asking whether the Lakers should acquire Nic Claxton, Daniel Gafford, Brook Lopez, DeAndre Ayton, or someone else to be their starting center.
Claxton of the Nets seems like the ideal athletic big that shines paired with Luka. However, he will make $25 million next year and Brooklyn won’t give him away for nothing.
Can Los Angeles find a deal for the big while still improving the roster?
If Pelinka opts for another deal with the Mavericks, perhaps Gafford is the best option for the Lakers. He averaged 12.3 points and 6.8 rebounds last season in Dallas. The issue with Gafford is that some NBA insiders think the Lakers will have to overpay to snatch him from the Mavs.
Lopez is a former Laker who has spent the last seven years as the starting center for the Bucks.
He’d bring stability and dependability to the frontcourt and is a veteran presence. Recent reports indicate that he’s likely to leave Milwaukee this summer. If he does, can a reunion in L.A. be forthcoming?
Ayton has been a bit of a disappointment during his career, but perhaps a change of scenery will bring out the best in him.
His upside is undeniable and he wouldn’t be the first center to revive his career in Los Angeles. Dwight Howard’s second stint as a Laker was a plus and JaVale McGee was a net-positive during the last L.A. championship run. Can Ayton have a career year with Luka throwing him lobs?
Perhaps another player is a better fit? Such as other free agents, draft prospects, or some G Leaguers that the NBA has ignored.
The market for centers is small and the demand is large, so the Lakers will have their work cut out for themselves figuring out how to solve these problems.
Even so, that’s the job Pelinka has and he’s proven to be the guy who can get it done. Now it’s just a matter of targeting the ideal player and doing what it takes to acquire them.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.