The Los Angeles Lakers have been a very active entity in the offseason. Having displayed an interest in acquiring a big man to strengthen their roster, the Purple and Gold have since been closely linked to several players.
Numerous candidates have also emerged at this time. Given the team's poor performance in this season's playoffs, it became abundantly clear that a dire need had to be addressed. Considering that the organization still has title aspirations, with Luka Doncic at the center of it all, the Lakers have looked for the "right" kind of player to support their star.
The primary individuals who have drawn the most attention are Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton and Mavs big man Daniel Gafford. While Claxton has been mentioned and referred to closely in trade rumors alone, the Lakers have shown an inclination to trade for Gafford only if his talks with Dallas fall through.
While there have been links to other free agents, such as Clint Capela and Brook Lopez, recent reports suggest that the Lakers may opt for a new approach. As per Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus, the Lakers could attempt to sign younger bigs like Day'Ron Sharpe or Jericho Sims, considering how weak the market for centers is at the moment.
Sharpe has been an interesting player to follow during his time with the Nets. Coming off his fourth season in the NBA, the center has shown consistent growth in all departments, notching an average of 7.9 points and 6.6 rebounds on 52.1% FG.
Sharpe has been a solid element on the Nets roster. Although he isn't a starter for the team, playing behind Claxton, he has offered a tremendous boost to Brooklyn's efforts from the bench.
At 6'11", the Nets' big man has shown great athleticism and ability around the basket. His sense for rebounding, particularly his effort on the offensive glass, would give the Lakers a much-needed interior presence. At only 22 years old, the center also brings youth and energy to a side that will need it in the regular season.
Sharpe's sense for setting screens makes him a solid candidate to play next to Doncic. His 265lb frame allows him to set solid screens, while his innate athleticism lets him roll to the basket with intent. The constant pressure in the dunker's spot is also likely to keep opposing bigs honest, allowing Sharpe to feast on lobs in cases of hesitation.
The 22-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent heading into the offseason. There is a better than even chance that the Nets will look to re-sign him, thus forcing the Lakers to acquire him via sign-and-trade only.
Another option that the Lakers could set their sights on was Jericho Sims. Sims is coming off a rather substandard season with the Milwaukee Bucks. After the team picked up an option on the 26-year-old for the 2024-25 season, Sims only appeared in 53 games and notched an average of 1.8 points and 3.7 rebounds on 63.4% FG.
These numbers don't necessarily do the young center much justice. During his time with the Knicks, Sims showcased a lot of potential in the few minutes he played in each game. Although his average of 2.4 points and 3.9 rebounds doesn't display a stark difference from his current averages, he has all the right tools to fit the Lakers' system as it stands.
The Purple and Gold have made their profile for their ideal big man known. What they need is an athletic big man who can run the floor, or a sharpshooting big man who can also act as a rim protector. Although these present two drastically different personas, Sims manages to find himself in the former category.
At 6'10", he may not be a legitimate seven-footer, but he displays incredible athleticism. His ability to get off the ground makes him an immediate lob threat, allowing him to pair well with Doncic, who has always rewarded his bigs in the dunker's spot.
Sims appears to be very similar to Jaxson Hayes in this regard. Although the Lakers' center did a solid job in the absence of any other options, it was evident that he was punching above his weight. With the likelihood of Hayes heading out of the organization in free agency, the franchise would do well to find a solid replacement as soon as possible.
It is quite likely that the Bucks will not re-sign Sims, hence allowing the Lakers to pick him up in free agency itself. However, a potential sign-and-trade deal wouldn't require the Lakers to offload much.
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