The Los Angeles Lakers' brutal five-game first round playoff series loss to the lower-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves laid bare a glaring issue for the franchise.
Since trading 10-time All-Star center Anthony Davis, 32, as the centerpiece of a package for five-time All-NBA First Team guard Luka Doncic, 26, Los Angeles has been woefully without a starting-caliber five man, or much interior defense at all.
L.A. head coach JJ Redick attempted to compensate for this with small-ball centers in the playoffs, but against four-time Defensive Player of the Year center Rudy Gobert and three-time All-Star power forward Julius Randle — plus the driving efforts of three-time All-Star shooting guard Anthony Edwards — the Lakers looked totally out-of-sorts.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) is defended by Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) and forward Lauri Markkanen (23) in the first quarter at Target Center.
Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
Apparently, Los Angeles' front office is very aware of this, and is now being linked to an oft-rumored potential trade partner: the Utah Jazz. Although Jazz center Walker Kessler and one-time All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen are the starriest big man names, the Lakers may be eyeballing someone else.
During a new episode of the "Locked On Jazz" podcast, The Salt Lake Tribune's Andy Larsen indicated that Los Angeles has actually been in talks with Utah about a deal for a less-heralded frontcourt standout.
“The Lakers-John Collins has been a conversation that’s been had. The Warriors were interested at the trade deadline before they got Jimmy Butler. I think, just contract-wise, that doesn’t work out anymore. He had a productive enough season last year that there should be interest in the league somewhere for him. I don’t expect the Jazz to get value back necessarily in those deals though.”