Recent reporting suggests that the Los Angeles Lakers won’t be targeting a big-name star to add to the formidable star power of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but will instead look to bolster their team with high-value depth, particularly at the guard and center positions.
While the Lakers have been connected to just about every guard in the league, most of the NBA rumors have them squarely focused on, most likely, Washington Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas or, less likely, Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic.
More Centers Linked To The Los Angeles Lakers In NBA Trade Rumors
But today Bleacher Report matched the top trade candidates with realistic landing spots, based on team need and fit. In it, they linked the Lakers to three more big men, Utah Jazz Walker Kessler, Portland Trailblazers Robert Williams III, and Atlanta Hawks Clint Capela.
BR cites Kessler as a budget option for center-needy teams but says it would cost the Lakers a first-round pick to get the deal done. His 11.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blockers per game do make him a very enticing option for LA.
The Lakers fit with Williams makes a lot of sense given his disruptive nature on defense and has far more experience, particularly in the playoffs than most other options available. But health will always be a concern
With Capela, the Lakers would have a happy medium between the previous two. He has played in at least 63 games in eight of his 10 seasons, including in each of his last four seasons, and is still a force to be reckoned with on the defensive side of the ball.
The Los Angeles Lakers continue to grasp on to stay above .500 on the season. At the time of publication, they are 14-12 winners of four of their last 12 and reside in 10th place in the Western Conference.