The Lakeshow Review

54-37. That was the rebound discrepancy in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference Quarter-Finals that saw the Lakers get eliminated at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves. LA was decimated all series at the battle of the boards. They had no answers for the size and length of Minnesota’s center Rudy Gobert, whose Wilt Chamberlain-esque 27 points, 24 rebounds effort left the Lakers in the dust and searching for answers. Throughout the playoffs, Lakers Head Coach JJ Redick gradually lost faith in Lakers big man Jaxson Hayes, decreasing his minutes as the series progressed. By Game 5, Hayes was an afterthought and logged in a total of 0 minutes. The Lakers also didn’t carry any other center on the roster, thus Redick made the decision to go small, with the hopes of overwhelming the young and physical Wolves on the perimeter. This backfired tremendously, as Minnesota, led by Gobert and Julius Randle, feasted on the Lakers lack of interior presence, to the point where one could make a solid case that it was the main culprit for LA’s disappointing early playoffs exit.

Amidst the looming offseason, the Lakers brass will be tasked with finding the team a ‘true’ center, as well as perhaps a viable backup, as they cannot afford to go into the season with such nonexistent depth at the 5. The team will likely prioritize fit and play-style over most factors as they search for a starting center. This likely means that youth, athleticism and defensive upside will be the main hallmarks the team will be looking for. Someone who fits the current timeline in terms of age. Someone who can set a screen and then roll and finish at the rim. Someone who can give the team a legitimate defensive presence on the interior. There will be several options available to the Lakers this summer. Some of them better fits, and some more attainable than others. But it’ll be incumbent on Rob Pelinka and the Lakers Front Office to find the right piece that will fill the gap at center and optimize their current window to compete for championships. Let’s take a look at some of the centers, who in my opinion could be available this summer, from the most attainable to the least likely, let’s attempt to cover all the bases:

Good Bargains:

• Clint Capela – This is an interesting choice, who the Lakers will most likely keep an eye on. Capela put up 8.9ppg, 8.5rpg on 56%FG in 55 games played this past season. At 31 years old, he’ll be entering unrestricted free agency this offseason. Capela is coming off the final year on his deal, where he he made over $22M as a member of the Atlanta Hawks. He will likely be playing for significantly less, as it’s unlikely that many teams with cap space will be vying for his services. The Lakers, for their part, won’t have a ton of ammunition to spend on free agents, as they will be maxed out at roughly $188M in salaries (assuming they run it back with the current roister). This puts them over the league’s luxury tax ($187.9M), meaning they will only have the tax-payer mid-level exception of $5.69M as means to add another rotation-caliber player. Capela fits this bill, as he could be had at that price, and in all honesty, would be a pretty good option. He is adequate at all the thing’s you’d want a center to do in this offense. He can rim run, finish, set picks, swat shots and defend at good to very good levels. Of course, this current iteration of Capela isn’t quite on the form of his days with the Mike D’Antoni Rockets, but on that same note, he does have experience playing opposite to ball-dominant floor generals like James Harden and Trae Young. This projects well for an offense in which Luka Dončić is the center of attention. Capela isn’t exactly elite at anything, but if he were to stake LA’s tax payer exception, then you’re most certainly maximizing those resources.
• Brook Lopez – Similar to Capela, Lopez is coming off his final year in his deal, which saw him make $23M with the Milwaukee Bucks. Lopez, 37, put together a very solid season where he averaged 13ppg, 5rpg and 1.9bpg on 51%FG in 80 games. You have to like that durability; additionally, this is the third consecutive season where he has played over 78 games. Unlike Capela, Brook’s play-style is more akin to that of a floor spacer. He shot over %37 from three on close to 5 attempts. He’d be a phenomenal pick and pop partner from Dončić or LeBron (should he return). He’s also an exceptional free throw shooter having shot 82%FT last season, so you’d have no reservation playing him in foul situations late in games. But as talented as Lopez is, anyone who’s familiar with the way Luka likes to play knows that he likes his bigs to roll hard to the rim, triggering the low-help defense which in turn opens up shooters. This isn’t exactly Brook’s strength, as he excels more in the role of a trailer; shooting the open shot at the top of the key, or initiating handoff action on delay sets. These are fine skills to have, however, he isn’t the perfect big to partner with Luka. With that said, if Lopez can be had for the tax-payer exception, you take him in a heartbeat. You know that he’s someone that you can count on to be available and provide above average play at the center position. For anything more than that, you’d have to look at his age (LA should be trying to get younger) and lack of mobility (defense) as factors to consider perhaps looking at other avenues.
• Steven Adams – As your starter, he’s maybe not the best option. But if he’s your backup, then you’re in business. The 31 year-old Australian is the type of grizzled vet that this team needs. His reputation as an enforcer would go a long way to helping the Lakers shed their perceived lack of toughness. His stats, though unspectacular, are solid for a backup center. With 3.9ppg and 5.6rpg on 54%FG (on a limited 13.7 minutes a game), he’d be a more than ideal candidate to shepherd the second unit. He’s coming off the final year in his deal which earned him over $12M, but I think he’d be a decent target for LA’s $5.9M tax payer mid-level exemption. I think some team will probably value him at slightly higher than a veteran’s minimum. For the tax-payer exemption he’s a solid acquisition. He is not an über productive stats machine, but his impact and presence are still felt. He’s had tremendous influence on the last two playoff teams he’s played for (Memphis and Houston), providing leadership and hard-nosed physicality. As a starter, you’re probably asking too much from Adams. At this stage, he isn’t incredibly dynamic or durable, and isn’t one to consistently produce highlight plays. But his defensive ability is still there, and he’s an able and experienced body to fill the interior with. As a bench sub, he’s all you want in a big man.

Realistic Trade Options:

• Daniel Gafford – He’s a familiar face. We know he’s had recent success playing with Luka during the Dallas’ run to the finals last season. With the Mavs winning the NBA Lottery (and expected to take Duke Star Forward Cooper Flagg), and their recent acquisition of Anthony Davis, as well as Dereck Lively’s looming 2027 payday (when he’ll be an restricted FA), the Mavericks may be willing to trim their front court in order to make room for those impending contracts. This leaves Gafford as the odd man out. The 26 year-old is coming off an outstanding year with Dallas, with 12.3ppg, 6.8rpg, and 1.8bpg on a hyper-efficient 71%FG. He also shoots a respectable 69%FT. After thriving as a backup in Dallas, he is now looking for a starting role, and eventually (in the summer 2027) starter money, both of which the Lakers can provide. Fit-wise, Gafford is quite optimal. He’s a very good defender, with excellent shot blocking instincts. He can run the floor, set a screen and dive to the hoop where he is an above average finisher. He’s already established chemistry with Luka from their Dallas days, and is simply a weapon for teams to contend with on the pick and roll. He has an exceptional motor which allows him to defend aggressively and then run the floor where he can beat his man down the court. He’s also very effective as a trailer, which means he’s the type of guy you want in a Luka offense. To top it off, he possesses soft hands, which allow him to be a play-maker on short roll situations and finish around the basket with touch. So what will he cost? Well, in an ideal world the Lakers could net Gafford for one of Rui Hachimura’s or Gabe Vincent’s expiring salaries plus an additional pick (plus maybe a pick swap). So what’s the catch? Well, the ball will once again be in Mavs GM Nico Harrison’s court, who after dealing Luka Dončić to the Lakers, will be under tight scrutiny from the Dallas fanbase. Could a second trade with the Lakers be something he could sell the Dallas faithful on? It’ll all come down to what type of value he expects the Lakers to give up. I believe the Lakers can offer a fair return. But if that’s not enough, then that’s when you walk away. Hopefully there’s still enough goodwill there, because Gafford would be a hell of a get.
• Nic Claxton – Similar to Clint Capela and Daniel Gafford. Nic Claxton is a great vertical threat, especially as a roll man on ball screens. At 26 years of age, he’s someone who’s a natural fit with this current Lakers core. He’s coming off a strong season, where he posted averages of 10.3ppg, 7.4rpg, 2.2apg and 1.4bpg on 56%FG. He also shot 51% from the free throw line, which could present some issues late in games. Claxton is a young and springy athlete, who excells in many areas that the Lakers could use. He’s a great finisher, and can operate at a high level on the pick and roll. He can also make plays on short roll situations, when teams hard hedge or trap the ball handler. I like his energy and motor. His durability is another plus, as he’s played in 70 or more games during the last three seasons. Claxton will likely be costly, as he is a young, quality and durable big man. First round picks would definitely be in play, from the Lakers’ side. However, if the price is anything more than expiring contracts (i.e. Gabe Vincent) plus a pick, then the Lakers should walk away. For instance, if the asking price is Rui, Knecht and a first, then that’s an overpay. Nic Claxton at the right price is an excellent addition, anything more than that and he could actually set you back.

High End Trade Options:

• Bam Adebayo – Bam’s a borderline star if he isn’t one already. With averages of 19ppg, 10.1rpg, and 4.5apg on 48%FG and 76%FT, the 27 year old is one of the best centers in basketball. This past season he also added a bit of floor spacing to his arsenal, shooting 36%3pt on nearly 3 attempts. I’m not sure what Miami’s future plans are for Adebayo, but after dealing Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline and later exiting the playoffs unceremoniously, it’s possible that they continue to sell off their remaining pieces in order to kickstart their rebuild. Bam’s salary, however, makes trading for him a bit trickier. He’s slated to earn over $37M in 2026. After that, his new extension kicks in, which bumps his salary up to $51M in 2027, $55M in 2028 plus a $59M player option in 2029. This means that trading for Bam would require stacking salaries, in addition to parting with most of LA’s assets like Reaves, Knecht, picks and pick swaps. After his new extension kicks in for 2027, you’re pretty much locked in to him and Luka (should Luka sign his extension) as your two best players. Leaving few resources to add depth, and fewer assets to deal for pieces, as a Bam trade basically requires emptying the asset chest. Is Bam worth it? As good of a player as he is, I don’t think he’d be worth it. His salary following his extension will simply be too high, and will limit the team’s ability to build a cohesive roster. But from a pure fit standpoint, Bam is about as good as it gets. He’s a tremendous pick and roll weapon and an elite finisher. He can both pop and roll. He’s also incredibly dynamic on handoffs, as he has enough ballhandling chops to drive to the rim after he fakes the handoff, when the defense over-helps on the cutter. If he had a more reasonable contract, he’d be a perfect fit. As it stands, his salary makes him both an unrealistic and non-practical option. But that’s not to say he isn’t a great player, because he is.
• Walker Kessler – Perhaps one of the most talked about options, as his name has been tossed around in trade rumors for a moment, Kessler is definitely a name to look out for. As a member of the Utah Jazz, Kessler produced averages of 11.1ppg, 12.2rpg and 2.4bpg on a blistering 66%FG this past season. He also shot 52% from the free throw line. He’s a valued commodity by Utah GM Danny Ainge, who has held steady on his asking price for Kessler; that being two first round picks. Kessler is certainly a unique talent; at 7’0″ and 245lbs, he’s certainly a force to behold on the interior. He possesses great length and athleticism for his size, which allows him to be a high-end vertical threat on screen and rolls. His defensive abilities are also top notch, as he’s one of the better rim protectors at 23 years of age. For all of his virtues, I don’t consider Kessler to be worth the gaudy price tag. Yes, he’s a great fit from an x’s and o’s perspective, but he does have certain limitations, particularly as it pertains to free throw shooting and playmaking. For his price tag, you’d expect a more well-rounded player. His salary though, is quite team friendly, as he’s still on his rookie deal (which earns him $4.8M next season) but he’ll be eligible to become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2026. Again, if he can be had for a reasonable price, then sure, pull the trigger. But I don’t foresee Danny Ainge wanting to give the Lakers anything resembling a fair bargain, thus he’ll push Kessler’s value past any realistic evaluation when it comes to dealing with LA. He already bailed out Pelinka once in the 2023 trade deadline, and again (unbeknownst to him) during the Luka Dončić trade. So he’ll obviously be looking to “win” this round over Pelinka. Probably not worth the trouble, even though Kessler is obviously a unique talent in the NBA.
• Jarrett Allen – Definitely one of the better, and more well rounded center options that may potentially be available. One of my personal favorites. At 26 years of age, Allen is a very complete center who would easily fill LA’s gap at the 5. With season averages of 13.5ppg, 9.7rpg, 0.9bpg on 70%FG and 70%FT, Allen is one of the more productive and consistently available (he played all 82 games this past season) centers in basketball. After Cleveland’s disappointing playoff showing, the team may look to shake things up. Given their slight redundancy at the center position, with Allen and Evan Mobley both making big time money, Cleveland could move one of them in order to bolster other areas of need. Allen would be their odd man out, as Mobley has the much higher ceiling. If so, great news for LA, as they can realistically offer the Cavs an enticing package in exchange for Allen’s services. Allen is set to make $20M in 2026, which makes salary matching fairly easy. Any combination Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura and Maxi Kleber (all expiring contracts) can get you there. Of course, additional assets and/or draft capital would be required, in the form of Dalton Knecht and picks/pick swaps. This is a fair trade, in my opinion, and one that you seriously consider making. Allen would solve several of the Lakers’ issues (size, lack of a “true” big, interior rim protection, etc.) and his age lines up nicely with the Lakers’ core. If Cleveland wants to play ball, the Lakers should oblige.

Darkhorse (read: unrealistic) Free Agent:

• Myles Turner – Highly touted Indiana big man Myles Turner is primed to hit free agency this summer, as his $20M/year contract is set to expire. Turner is a name most Lakers fans should be familiar with, as he was the subject of several trade rumors three offseasons ago in the summer of 2022, when the Lakers were looking to unload Russell Westbrook, and his massive contract. Russell Westbrook and multiple first round picks in exchange for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield was the reported offer. LA ultimately (and correctly) passed on this offer, as they deemed the asking price to be too high. This time they *might* have the chance to sign Turner outright. The 29 year old center had averages of 15.6ppg, 6.5rpg and 2bpg on 48%FG and 77%FT. He’s also an elite floor spacer with 39%3pt from range. Unfortunately, Turner is a vital piece in Indiana’s roster, who are currently rolling in the playoffs and set to face off against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. So this makes him highly unlikely to leave his current club, as the mutual interest will certainly be there. From the Lakers’ perspective, attaining Turner is highly unlikely, hence the category. For the offseason, LA will have little money to spend on free agents. If LeBron James opts in to his $52M player option, the Lakers will have no cap room. Leaving them with just the $5.9M tax payer exemption as the only resource to add a free agent. Even if LeBron takes the requisite paycut to activate the full mid level exception (roughly $14M), that’s still not enough to lure someone of Tuner’s stature. He is very clearly a great fit. Even though he is not quite the vertical threat as someone like Bam or Nic Claxton, he has unique gravity for a big man with his three point shooting. His finishing is also decent enough. But his ability as a pop man would certainly open up avenues for the offense. Defensively, you like the swat numbers and overall rim protection. And with his athletic profile, he’s definitely someone who can fill the lane in transition, rim run and/or excel as a trailer. Very dynamic player, who is one of the main reasons Indiana is still playing this deep into the postseason. Unfortunately for LA, he’s more of a pipe dream at this point. But if the stars somehow align for the Lakers and Turner, then he’d be a great pillar to add to the roster.

Out of these targets, I’d say that Capela and Gafford seem like the best natural fits, in terms of x’s and o’s and budgetary limitations. The Lakers won’t have a ton of money to spend on the market, nor do they have an overabundance of assets to flip for a superstar big, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo. As a result, they’ll have to make their choices wisely and carefully. A player like Capela fits into the team’s $5.9M tax-payer exemption, and would be good allocation of that money. Someone like Gafford would also align with the assets the Lakers can offer. Some combination of Rui Hachimura and a first round pick for Daniel Gafford would be a wise move that the team could make.

Ideally, you’d want to see the Lakers land both a starting center and a backup center. As we saw throughout the Lakers’ brief playoff stint, JJ Redick quickly lost faith in Jaxson Hayes, the only center on the roster. After Hayes was sidelined, the team had no viable options to play at the 5, thus they were forced to play small, and were subsequently punished by Minnesota’s formidable front court. In my opinion this was the main reason for the team’s woes in the playoffs. As we are witnessing in this season’s playoffs, teams with two-big lineups are reaping the benefits of their size and physicality. Depth at the center position has always been an essential foundation for winning basketball, even in today’s pace and space landscape.

Additionally, you want to have a dynamic big man (or two) on the roster, in order to fully optimize a Luka Dončić-led offense. Luka is a pick and roll wizard. Thus, bigs who are mobile, can set good screens and are athletic enough to finish strong at the hoop are vital pieces in that play style. Any big who is a threat to finish at the rim after setting a pick will always trigger the low help which in turn opens up shooters on the perimeter. And bigs who are threats to pop after screening will open up driving lanes for other players. That’s why dynamic and versatile big men are vital in today’s NBA, not just in a Luka offense. The Lakers sorely lacked in this area, an area where Jaxson Hayes alone was not nearly sufficient to keep them competitive. Should the Lakers brass nail their quest for a center this offseason, it will open up numerous possibilities for the offense, and make them all the more formidable. Let’s hope they’re successful in that task. Go Lakeshow.