The Los Angeles Lakers traded for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams at the February trade deadline after Luka Doncic told Rob Pelinka the type of big man he likes to play with.

However, the Lakers-Hornets trade was rescinded after Williams failed his physical with Los Angeles.

After trading Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in the Doncic trade, the Lakers started Jaxson Hayes at center. The Texas product averaged 8.2 points and 5.5 rebounds after the Davis-Doncic trade.

While Los Angeles is in the playoffs this year as the third seed, most experts believe the team needs to upgrade the center spot this offseason and one NBA analyst thinks Pelinka should make another trade with the Brooklyn Nets. Pelinka has a rapport with the Nets front office.

He traded D’Angelo Russell and Maxwell Lewis to Brooklyn for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton in December.

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed that the Lakers trade Dalton Knecht, Rui Hachimura and a 2025 second-round pick to the Nets for Nic Claxton this summer. “Claxton, 26, would be a big upgrade over Hayes,” Swartz wrote.

“He’s a potential defensive anchor who blocked 1.4 shots per game and held opponents to a solid 58.7 percent shooting at the rim this season to go along with 10.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

Signed for the next three seasons on a contract that actually decreases by about $2 million per year, he’d be an affordable option for the Lakers in the middle.” Claxton appeared in 70 games for the Nets this season.

The lefty averaged 10.3 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 56.3% from the field. If Pelinka figured out a way to acquire Claxton, Lakers head coach JJ Redick could start Doncic, Austin Reaves, Finney-Smith, LeBron James and Claxton next season.

The 26-year-old Claxton has career averages of 10.3 points and 7.7 rebounds. He will make $25.4 million next season.