The Lakers keep circling the same need: size. Even with Los Angeles aggressively reshaping the roster this summer after LeBron James said he would not return, the search for another center has not gone away.
That hunt matters because the Lakers are trying to build around a new core. Outside of Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic, the expectation is that the starting lineup will look completely different this season, and the front office is clearly aiming younger. But youth alone does not solve the issue in the middle, which is why the team is still weighing ways to add more depth at center.
“The Lakers are still monitoring the market for big men, team sources told The Athletic," The Athletic’s Dan Woike reported. "They traded for Walker Kessler and signed Kevon Looney to play center, and Mamukelashvili can play the position, too.
The team could address the position either by trade or signing, like with potentially adding Thybulle. The roster is currently at full capacity."
At the same time, Los Angeles has not been shy about exploring the trade market. Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht have both come up in talks as the Lakers look for upgrades.
“The Lakers are actively shopping Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt in trade talks. After gaining two second-round picks in the Deandre Ayton trade, Los Angeles could consolidate those assets in a deal immediately for a starting-caliber wing," NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.
That gives Knecht a real chance to be part of the next move if the Lakers decide to chase another big. NBA writer Jake Weinbach has floated a deal that would send Knecht and Jake LaRavia to the Chicago Bulls for Jalen Smith.
“If the Lakers discuss the possibility of acquiring Jalen Smith, a trade package would likely include Jake LaRavia, Dalton Knecht, and second-round draft compensation. Smith is reportedly a trade target for the Lakers, but it’s unclear if the Bulls are willing to move the 26-year-old big man,” Weinbach wrote.
Smith fits the type of player the Lakers are chasing. He can play both power forward and center, and he would give the roster another reliable option behind Walker Kessler. Chicago, meanwhile, could have interest in taking on Knecht as it continues building around its young core.
Smith has earned $36 million throughout his NBA career, and his rim protection is the selling point here. If the Bulls are open to absorbing Knecht’s contract, the Lakers could have a workable path to getting the deal done.
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If that path keeps getting harder, the Lakers are at least doing the due diligence on other wing options, including Cavaliers forward Max Strus. Strus would not carry the same financial strain, which makes him the kind of name that can stay in the conversation when a bigger swing starts to get complicated. For a roster still looking to balance shooting, salary, and flexibility, that kind of fallback can matter almost as much as the headline move itself. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Wing Search Keeps One Familiar Name In Play
The Lakers have kept their focus on adding wing help, and Klay Thompson remains one familiar name tied to that search. Thompson, who signed with the Mavericks in 2024, is coming off a season in which he averaged about 12 points per game, and his rsum still makes him an obvious fit for teams looking to add shooting and experience on the perimeter.
What complicates the picture is how Dallas handles him and how the Lakers shape the rest of their offseason plan. The Mavericks would prefer to trade Thompson rather than buy him out, and Los Angeles interest may end up being linked to its efforts to land Jonathan Kuminga, leaving one of the leagues most recognizable veteran wings in a situation that still has a few moving parts. [Read more 🡒]