Rob Pelinka, JJ Redick, Lakers
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Lakers president Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick are looking for a starting-caliber center.
The Lakers are desperate to acquire a center ahead of the 2025-26 season, and their “desperation” is being held against them, according to a former NBA executive.
The anonymous former NBA official detailed the league’s thoughts on the team’s mishandling of assets in recent years, and why it could prevent a significant Lakers trade.
“The worst spot you can put yourself in is trying to negotiate while everyone knows about your desperation,” the former executive told Anthony Irwin of Clutch Points.
“The whole league knows that not only do the Lakers need a starting center and probably a backup, but they need to bring someone in who Luka is going to want to play with. They basically have to hope someone else reaches their current level of desperation so that the talks can be held on even footing.”
Mistakes of the Lakers Front Office
Irwin’s article recounted the various trades made by the Lakers’ front office in recent years, including the trade for Russell Westbrook, as well as their refusal to trade the athletic guard for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield when they had the chance.
“What’s maddening about the Lakers’ frustrations on the center market is, well, they should’ve learned from their own recent experience dealing with a trade market that knows exactly what they have to do,” he wrote.
The Lakers insider added that teams around the league are trying to capitalize directly on the Lakers’ struggles with the center position and “mishandling of their assets over the last few years.” This also includes the Lakers’ premature decision to trade Dalton Knecht and an unprotected first-round pick to the Hornets for Mark Williams, only for the trade to be rescinded.
According to Irwin, the Lakers have a two-step plan to upgrade at the center position: trade for the starter and use the taxpayer midlevel exception (projected at $5.7M) to use on a backup big man.
Lakers Trade Options For Centers
“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,” he wrote.
Irwin continued, “It’s a solid plan that they’re considered likely to be able to execute. But, because of their clear and desperate need at the position, such an approach is going to be a lot more complicated than it would’ve been had they not neglected the position the past couple of seasons.”
Kessler, Jazz’s third-year center, has been linked to the Lakers dating back to late in the 2023-24 season. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers remain “intrigued” about the possibility of adding the elite shot-blocking big man.
“If they do revisit it [the trade], that remains a player that the Lakers feel could fil the void that they have at center,” he said.
“I’m not reporting anything’s moving towards [a deal] or picking up steam or anything like that, but Kessler remains on the Lakers’ radar.”
Kessler averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks last season.