The Lakers have already been one of the busiest teams of the offseason, but Rob Pelinka still isn’t done shopping.
After moving on from LeBron James, Los Angeles added Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle, Quentin Grimes, and Sandro Mamukelashvili, among others. That group has the Lakers positioned to be competitive next season, with the hope that they can catch some people off guard. Even with that work in the books, Pelinka is still looking for another move.
One name that has surfaced is Charlotte Hornets center Moussa Diabate. Lakers insider Jovan Buha said, “I am sure he is someone on the Lakers’ radar; I don’t think you are getting him for a second [round pick].”
That kind of price tag makes sense given what Diabate brings. The Lakers have been shaky defensively since Anthony Davis left, and they still have a clear need for help at center. Diabate wouldn’t solve everything, but he would give them another body in the middle and bring some much-needed depth to a thin part of the roster.
The Lakers are also still chasing Jonathan Kuminga, and that remains the bigger priority because of the hole at small forward. But that situation is still unresolved as Kuminga looks for the best deal he can get, and Los Angeles can’t afford to sit around forever while the rest of the roster waits to be filled out. Diabate may actually be the cleaner fit, especially if he comes at a lower cost.
Last season, Diabate averaged 7.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 63.1% from the field. He’s not a headline-grabber, but his energy and defense make him a useful target for a team that needs exactly that kind of player. At 6’10”, he would also add size and give the Lakers more options off the bench.
The problem is that Diabate isn’t just sitting there waiting to be picked up. He’s under contract for $2.4 million next season, so Los Angeles would need to trade for him unless he’s bought out. The Lakers would apparently be open to moving Jarred Vanderbilt or Jake LaRavia, but the Hornets want picks, and that’s where things get tricky for a team that doesn’t have much to spare.
That’s the reality for Los Angeles now. The front office has already committed over $120 million to its new big three, and the roster still needs more help.
Luka Doncic’s presence means the Lakers have to keep pushing to build something that can contend, but their limited assets make every deal a challenge. Diabate looks like a strong fit, though whether the Lakers can actually get him is another matter.
If it doesn’t happen now, they can always revisit it once the season starts and circumstances change.
In Other News...
Lakers Had A Very Different Center Plan If Kessler Fell Through
The Lakers center search came into focus this summer when they landed Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade with Utah, paying a steep price in two first-round picks, two pick swaps and a four-year, $130 million contract. The move gives Los Angeles a clear answer in the middle, with Kessler expected to start and Kevon Looney and Sandro Mamukelashvili behind him.
What makes the deal even more revealing is how close the Lakers came to taking a different path at the same position. According to The Athletics Dan Woike, the front office had a fallback plan in free agency if the Kessler pursuit had gone sideways, a reminder that this was not just about one target but about solving a roster need the organization clearly viewed as urgent. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Pivot To A Less Flashy Forward Option Fans Did Not Expect
The Lakers still have a full 16-man roster, but that has not stopped them from looking for a way to sharpen the group before the season starts. After spending time on the idea of landing Jonathan Kuminga, the front office appears to be widening its search and weighing less splashy forward options as it tries to find a move that fits both the roster and the cap sheet.
One path that has surfaced would involve Denver, where financial pressure tied to restricted free agent Peyton Watson could force the Nuggets to listen on a player they might otherwise prefer to keep. Any deal would likely have to be built around pieces such as Jarred Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia, but nothing is close to finished yet, leaving the Lakers with another decision to make as they continue to hunt for a useful upgrade. [Read more 🡒]
George Lopez Just Walked Away From The Lakers Over One Issue
George Lopezs recent comments on a podcast landed squarely in the middle of a larger conversation around the Lakers ownership and the public image of Mark Walter. Lopez said he had stopped following both the Lakers and the Dodgers, tying his decision to what he described as Walters connection to detention centers and ICE, a stance that adds another layer to the scrutiny already circling the billionaire sports owner.
The backdrop matters because Walters investment firm, Guggenheim Partners, previously held shares in GEO Group, the private prison company contracted by ICE, before later divesting them. Walter is also under investigation for alleged fraudulent transactions dating back to 2019, which only keeps the spotlight on his business record as fans and public figures continue to weigh how much off-court baggage they are willing to separate from the teams they root for. [Read more 🡒]