Lakers fans are probably still in shock over the Luka Doncic trade, but the NBA stops for no one. More trades are almost guaranteed to happen given that the team no longer has a starting center and were thin at that position even before moving Anthony Davis. Lead executive Rob Pelinka has only few days to get a deal done, with the Feb. 6 deadline approaching quickly.
Luckily for the Lakers, there are a lot of cheap low-end starter centers who should be available. They should probably be prioritizing defense given that they ranked 21st on that end of the floor before trading away their All-Defensive big man.
The Lakers still have their 2031 first-round pick, 2025 second-round pick, and some pick swaps to offer. Here are the names that they can get for that price.
MORE LAKERS TRADE NEWS:
- Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade grades
- Why did the Mavericks trade Luke Doncic?
- When will Luka Doncic make Lakers debut?
- Latest updates on Luka Doncic's injury
Lakers 2025 NBA trade deadline targets
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Nikola Vucevic, Bulls
Vucevic isn’t the defensive stalwart the Lakers need, but he is the most talented player that Los Angeles can afford. He had a decent case to make his third All-Star game this season, averaging 19.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.
Vucevic does offer some things that could help the Lakers. He’s a good stretch big man, shooting 40.1 percent from 3 on decent volume. That would be a godsend for JJ Redick, who has tried to get his team shooting more 3’s but hasn’t succeeded much in that department.
Vucevic is also a great defensive rebounder, a good screener, and a solid passer. He could slot into the offensive system that Redick had set up for Davis, using the team’s centers as a passing hub.
Most importantly for the Lakers is the price. After the Bulls’ mediocre return for Zach LaVine, it appears like they are willing to move off their veterans for whatever they can get. It might not even cost Los Angeles its first-round pick to bring Vucevic in.
Robert Williams III, Blazers
Williams was a really good player for a Finals team the last time he was healthy. That has been a while, but he’s back on the court now. He’s the best rim protector on the market — he finished seventh in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2022 and still has his incredible jumping ability even after all of his knee issues.
Doncic has thrived when playing alongside a lob threat. Williams certainly is that. He has a 72.5 career field goal percentage because his shots are usually so close to the rim. Like Vucevic, he is also an underrated passer that can throw some nifty dimes from the top of the floor.
Williams is available because the Blazers have too many big men to play, and because he is always a constant threat to get re-injured. There will be multiple teams interested in him, including the other Los Angeles team.
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Clint Capela, Hawks
Capela had been a solid starter in the league for a decade now. That time looks like it may be drawing to a close. He recently lost that spot in Atlanta to Onyeka Okongwu, and that has made him expendable.
Capela’s not a bad player, but he’s not the superb athlete that he once was. He can still get up there and dunk the ball off lobs, he is a fantastic offensive rebounder, and he’s a decent rim protector.
He’s not a threat at all to stretch the floor, and his poor free throw shooting can be a weak point at the end of games. He’s a decent stopgap option for the rest of the year and will be a free agent this summer if the Lakers decide to pursue him then.
Jonas Valanciunas, Wizards
LeBron James seems to love Valanciunas, so much that the star offered to take a pay cut last summer if Pelinka could bring him in. The financials never worked out, and Valanciunas went to the Wizards instead.
Washington is the worst team in league history by several different measures. They don’t need the 32-year-old big man any more, particularly with the development of rookie Alex Sarr. Valanciunas can still play though. He’s a giant in the post and a fierce rebounder. His footspeed is a major weakness, and he can get attacked in pick-and-rolls. He makes up for some of that with his offense.
Jusuf Nurkic, Suns
The Suns are practically begging teams to take Nurkic off their hands. He began the season as the Suns’ starter but has been benched for a month because of his ineffective play. His touch at the rim has gone from concerning to three-alarm fire and his footspeed is not good on the perimeter. He is a decent rim protector, rebounder, and passer.
It would cost the Lakers next to nothing in order to acquire Nurkic. If it did happen, it would likely be part of a three-team deal in order to make the financials work.
Wendell Carter Jr., Magic
Carter looked like a solid young starting center for the Magic over the previous few seasons. His play has fallen off a cliff this year, and it’s not totally clear why. He can’t hit a shot to save his life.
That makes him a nice reclamation project for the Lakers. He’s a high-feel defender that does a little bit of everything on the floor. He can shoot 3’s adequately, pass the ball, rebound, and play in multiple types of coverages.
The Lakers might not have the luxury of waiting for Carter to find his groove again. He could be a good offseason trade target.
Walker Kessler, Jazz
Kessler is the big man who would help the Lakers the most. The 23-year-old center is the last name on this list though because he is probably out of the team’s price range. The Jazz have been seeking multiple first-round picks, and the Lakers only have one.
Kessler is one of the best young rim protectors in the league. His career averages of 2.4 blocks in only 24.6 minutes per game are actually better than Davis’ 2.3 career blocks in 34.5 minutes per game. Kessler is also a good finisher at the rim and a monster rebounder. His skill work could use some more development — he’s not a great screener. But he has a lot of potential to anchor a top 10 defense.