With the Los Angeles Lakers clearly needing to improve at the center position next season, The Athletic’s Kelly Iko mentioned Houston Rockets big man Steven Adams as a potential target for the storied franchise this offseason.
Adams was highly impactful in a bench role for the Rockets during the team’s short stint in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. He gave Houston great play on both sides of the ball, as he averaged 5.7 points, 6.6 rebounds (3.3 of those coming on the offensive glass) and 1.1 blocks per game across seven playoff contests.
However, it might be hard for the Lakers to pry away the big man from Houston, as the Rockets are making retaining Adams a “clear priority” in the offseason.
“As the Rockets brass continue to maneuver through offseason mode — conducting draft workouts, tying up loose ends with exit interviews and prepping for a pivotal summer — they’ll need to address several key potential free agents on the roster,” Iko wrote. “Veterans Steven Adams, Jeff Green and Jae’Sean Tate will be unrestricted free agents as of June 30 — but of the trio, Adams is seen as the clear priority, team sources told The Athletic.
“The 31-year-old’s career revival this season — recovering from a right knee injury and becoming a critical part of [Ime] Udoka’s late-season rotation — is the reason hammering out his future is arguably Houston’s top priority, those sources said. But because of his two-way production, particularly his elite offensive rebounding, the possibility of Adams being lured away by a playoff team exists. Adams, who earned $12.6 million last season, would be a natural fit for teams such as San Antonio, New York, Indiana and both Los Angeles organizations. But the Rockets are operating under the assumption Adams wants to return — and will continue to speak with his representation about a possible extension, team sources said.”
In a key Game 6 on the road for the Rockets in their first-round series against the Golden State Warriors, Adams was arguably the player of the game for Houston. He totaled 17 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots in a game the Rockets needed to win to keep their season alive and force a Game 7.
Adams seems to be in a career renaissance after the injury bug kept him sidelined for the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign, and his chops as a rebounder and rim protector make him an appealing target for a Lakers squad that lacks size and toughness.
If Adams is seeking a bigger role than the one he has in Houston, then he would likely find what he’s looking for on the Lakers. There’s a real chance that he would be Los Angeles’ starting big man from the get-go, and he stands out as an upgrade over Jaxson Hayes, who was relatively a no-show in the playoffs.
On top of an impressive two-way skill set, Adams brings plenty of playoff experience to the table as well, which could come in handy for the Lakers in their pursuit of the 2026 NBA title. He’s made a number of playoff runs over the course of his pro career and even played in two Western Conference Finals earlier in his career when he was with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
It will be interesting to see where the big man ends up this summer.