Luka Doncic, Lakers, Luka Doncic defense
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Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a play during the fourth quarter of the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinal against the San Antonio Spurs at Crypto.com Arena on December 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
As the season moves forward, scrutiny around Los Angeles Lakers center DeAndre Ayton continues to intensify.
The Lakers took a calculated gamble last summer, signing the former No. 1 overall pick following his buyout from the Portland Trail Blazers.
While the move always carried an element of risk, the early returns have fallen well short of expectations.
In recent weeks, Ayton has missed multiple point-blank attempts, including routine layups and lob finishes, and his overall impact has come under increasing criticism.
His defensive rating ranks as the third-worst on the roster, and over the past four games, he is averaging just 5.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per night while shooting 34.4% from the field.
Lakers Broadening Trade Focus Amid Ayton Struggles
Entering the season, the prevailing belief was that general manager Rob Pelinka would prioritize adding a young 3-and-D wing at the February 5 trade deadline.
Ayton’s uneven play, however, appears to have widened the scope of that search.
According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst, the Lakers have begun canvassing the market for frontcourt help as well, with rim protection emerging as an additional area of focus.
That shift aligns with feedback Pelinka reportedly received following last year’s blockbuster move for Luka Doncic.
In the immediate aftermath of that deal, the Lakers sought input from their new franchise cornerstone, including which centers he preferred to play alongside, according to beat writer Jovan Buha.
“…They just trade for Luka, they have the meeting in Rob’s office with ‘Which centers do you want to play with?’ I’ve already reported this that several of the centers on the list were Walker Kessler, Jalen Duren, I believe Nic Claxton was also on that list,” Buha said on a recent livestream, via Silver Screen and Roll.
“They tried to get all three of those guys with the Dalton Knecht package. They did not get any of them. The one guy they were able to land was Mark Williams, who I do believe was lower on the list overall. [Onyeka] Okongwu was also on that list. They were not able to get Okongwu either.”
Walker Kessler Could Remain Long-Term Target
Walker Kessler is a name that has consistently resurfaced in Lakers discussions over the past few years. Even last offseason, Los Angeles remained “intrigued” by the Utah Jazz center, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
At 24-years-old, Kessler fits the profile the Lakers are reportedly looking for. He is young, defensive-minded, and entering the final year of his rookie contract.
He is earning $4.8 million this season as part of a $13.3 million deal and is expected to command a significant raise in free agency this summer.
Before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury that required surgery, the 7-foot-2 center appeared in five games this season, averaging 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.8 blocks while shooting 70.3% from the field.
Utah has reportedly continued to reject trade offers for Kessler, making the offseason the more realistic window for Los Angeles to pursue him.
With LeBron James and Austin Reaves both currently slated to hit free agency, the summer could bring a significant roster reset and far greater financial flexibility.
Los Angeles would control multiple first-round picks rather than just one, and according to Spotrac’s Keith Smith, the Lakers are projected to have more than $55 million in available cap space, enough room to pursue a Kessler-type acquisition.
Claxton, Assets, and the Deadline Reality
Nic Claxton is another center whose name continues to be linked to the Lakers as the trade deadline approaches, should Los Angeles decide to act sooner rather than later.
As with past pursuits, however, the Lakers’ asset limitations remain a major obstacle. Any proposal is expected to center on expiring contracts, with Rui Hachimura ($18.2 million), Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million), and Maxi Kleber ($11 million) serving as the primary salary matching pieces.
Those contracts have generated limited traction around the league. The Golden State Warriors has reportedly rebuffed any inquiries involving Jonathan Kuminga, while Dalton Knecht’s trade market has been described as virtually non-existent.
Compounding the issue, Los Angeles currently controls only one tradable first-round pick, a constraint that has narrowed the team’s deadline options considerably.
To counter that, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin recently reported that Pelinka is exploring ways to trade either the Lakers’ 2031 or 2032 first-round pick in exchange for multiple future selections.
Flipping a distant first into several earlier picks could dramatically reshape the Lakers’ flexibility.
Such a move would reopen access to additional first-rounders and expand the number of trade constructions available, both before the deadline and into the offseason.
In that scenario, Los Angeles would suddenly have far more paths to pursue a higher-caliber center, whether that solution arrives in the coming days or becomes part of a larger summer reset built around Doncic’s preferences.