We still don’t know exactly what the Los Angeles Lakers will do at the trade deadline. So much depends on whether they’re willing to part with their lone first-round pick, and who’s actually available. We do, however, know exactly what they won’t do—which also happens to be what they absolutely shouldn’t do: trade for a center.
With all due respect to Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes, this has nothing to do with the current big-man rotation. If we’re being honest, the Ayton experiment is the most maddening of roller coasters. And while Hayes is exceeding expectations—he’s 13-of-21 from floater range this season!—he’s neither big enough nor, frankly, good enough to be tapped as L.A.’s 5 of the future.
This theoretically puts the Lakers in play for a big man. And if the right one becomes available, they should pounce. Short of that, they can pretty much guarantee they’ll be able to bag a center of the future this summer.
The Lakers should be salivating at the offseason center market
If you need any more evidence that the Lakers’ emphasis on cap space is a smart move, just look at the list of available centers.
Jalen Duren is on track to become an All-Star, and scheduled to enter restricted free agency. Walker Kessler is out for the year following left shoulder surgery, but his rim protection, when healthy, continues to fit the Lakers’ needs. He’ll be a restricted free agent, too.
Isaiah Hartenstein isn’t the most explosive lob threat, but he does just about everything else exceptionally well. His $28.5 million team option could plausibly get declined by the Oklahoma City Thunder, as they prepare for the max extensions of Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren to take effect.
Lower-level options who are potentially awesome fits if the Lakers are looking to kick cap-space plan down the road to the 2027 offseason will be up for grabs as well. They probably won’t want to reunite Kristaps Porzingis with Luka Doncic, but Mitchell Robinson, Robert Williams III, Andre Drummond, and Jock Landale (having a sneaky-great season) are just a couple of impact names who should be willing to sign shorter deals.
Why the Lakers should have no problem finding a better center
Anyone who has watched NBA free agency turn into a big ol’ snooze fest the past few years might doubt the Lakers’ ability to “just go out and get someone.” That is fair. It’s also the wrong way to look at his situation.
First and foremost, they are the Lakers. Having potentially more than $55 million in cap space will always mean more for them than it does for other teams, no matter how lame movement has become in free agency.
More critically, we are witnessing a real-time shift in how teams generally value non-superstars—and even some actual superstars—in Era of Aprons has changed how teams view those who aren’t max-deal or near-max-contract formalities. That is why Trae Young fetched next to nothing when getting traded from the Atlanta Hawks. It’s why the Memphis Grizzlies won’t get much for Ja Morant if they deal him. Ditto for the Sacramento Kings with Domantas Sabonis. And Zach LaVine.
So on and so forth.
Basically, while free agency won’t necessarily be making an all-out comeback, non-superstars on the ascent (Duren, Kessler) or in their primes (Hartenstein) should be more gettable than ever. If you’re the Lakers, why would you surrender assets now for a big, when you can surely land one while surrendering only cap space later? You wouldn’t. So they won’t.