The Los Angeles Lakers need depth at center and, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the team is exploring options to add a big man to the roster.
It must do so or risk wasting the final years of LeBron James’ career and Anthony Davis’ prime.
Christian Wood is recovering from knee surgery while Christian Koloko is still waiting to be cleared for action after a blood clot issue. That leaves Jaxson Hayes as the primary backup to Davis, who had previously expressed his desire not to play the 5 position.
There are options for the team to consider.
Atlanta’s Clint Capela has an expiring $22 million deal, and he would immediately improve the Lakers’ roster and further establish them as a legitimate threat out west, but the team would have to be willing to trade a valued player for him as the Hawks are not likely to sit back and accept nothing of substance in return.
“The Lakers have been exploring potentially adding a big man, a center to their roster.” 👀 @ShamsCharania makes his NBA Today debut with the latest on the Lakers’ search for a big 💪 pic.twitter.com/8iqVBTIGrJ
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 10, 2024
Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura and/or Jarred Vanderbilt would likely have to be involved in whatever deal the team would put together, and even then, dealing Vanderbilt to another team undermines the intent to get stronger at center.
That there would be no commitment beyond 2024 is equally as concerning given what the team would give up to acquire Capela, who averaged 25.8 minutes, 11.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists last season.
The Utah Jazz’s enormous trade demand for Walker Kessler (two first-rounders, per Marc Stein) means the talented young center is unlikely to be a realistic option for the Lakers, even if he could make for a potent one-two punch with Davis.
The best option for the team might be Robert Williams III, a defensive-minded center from the Portland Trail Blazers. While he has a history of injuries and has played in more than 50 games only twice in his career, he can be acquired relatively easily from a team brimming with centers and at a reasonable cap hit of just under $12.5 million in 2024-25.
If the intent is to keep Davis at center and use Vanderbilt once he is back at the beginning of the season, acquiring Williams for depth carries much less risk than if the team needed him to step in and play significant minutes every game.
Williams is a career 72.9 percent shooter from the paint, with 4.3 defensive rebounds, 2.6 offensive rebounds and 1.7 blocks. His stats will not jump off the page at anyone, but he plays gritty defense and can provide the team a level of toughness at the rim that it could use as it looks to set a tone in a packed Western Conference.
For a team that has championship aspirations under first-year coach JJ Redick, it cannot roll into another season in which James and Davis are healthy but a lack of depth limits production and ultimately lands them in play-in games.
The front office must make a deal to secure quality at a needed position if L.A. is to live up to expectations. Otherwise, the result is another lost year, something neither of the organization’s two biggest stars has many of left.
It will not be easy, especially given their cap situation, but some creative maneuvering by the front office should still be able to make something work to ensure the team maximizes its potential.