The Lakers still have work to do in the frontcourt, and one possible answer on the trade market is Chicago’s Jalen Smith.
Los Angeles has already turned over a big chunk of its roster this offseason, but the front office isn’t treating the job as finished. The team is still in the Jonathan Kuminga sweepstakes and continues to look for another big man, even with 16 players already under contract for next season, the maximum allowed.
Dan Woike of The Athletic identified Smith as a trade target who could help address the Lakers’ need for center depth. The appeal is pretty clear: even though he’s undersized, Smith can space the floor. He shot 37.3 percent from three-point range last season, the second-best mark of his career, and his career high came in 2023-24 with the Indiana Pacers at 42.4 percent.
Smith’s value isn’t limited to shooting. He can also help on the glass, which matters for a Lakers team trying to add insurance in the middle. In 53 games with Chicago last season, he averaged 10.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 48.3 percent overall and 37.3 percent from deep.
There’s a catch, though. Smith is on an expiring contract, so he would give the Lakers some flexibility if things didn’t work out before the NBA trade deadline.
But getting him would require a trade, and that’s where the fit gets tricky. The Bulls would have to decide what return they want, and it could take multiple players plus draft capital to get a deal done.
Smith’s season ended early because of a calf injury.
If the Lakers want a cheaper path, free agency still offers another name to watch: Nick Richards. Richards spent last season with the Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls, and he profiles as a veteran-minimum option. At 6’11”, he brings size, rebounding, lob finishing and rim protection off the bench.
A frontcourt group of Walker Kessler, Kevon Looney and Richards would give Los Angeles some real depth and cover, especially alongside a duo that appeared in only 26 total games last season.
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