{"id":62595,"date":"2025-05-20T02:16:13","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T02:16:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=62595"},"modified":"2025-05-20T02:16:13","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T02:16:13","slug":"rumors-lakers-linked-to-20-million-center-after-nba-draft-lottery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=62595","title":{"rendered":"RUMORS: Lakers Linked to $20 Million Center After NBA Draft Lottery"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Rob<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Lakers could revisit their trade interest in Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl this summer, Hoopshype\u2019s Michael Scotto reported after the NBA Draft lottery results.<\/p>\n

The Raptors fell from seventh to ninth in this year\u2019s draft, where ESPN projected them to select South Carolina big man Collin Murray-Boyles. Scotto added Maryland center Derik Queen \u201ccould also make sense\u201d for the Raptors.<\/p>\n

If the Raptors draft a center, Poeltl could become available for the Lakers.<\/p>\n

\u201cPoeltl is owed $19.5 million for the 2025-26 season and has a player option for the same figure for the 2026-27 season. Should Poeltl not get an extension done with Toronto, a team such as the Los Angeles Lakers \u2013 who are seeking an upgrade at center \u2013 could have trade interest,\u201d Scotto wrote.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Lakers were interested in Poeltl before the trade deadline, according to\u00a0Michael Grange of SportsNet Canada.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Lakers have inquired about him, but the sense is the Raptors are holding out for an offer that would include a first-round pick (likely with a certain level of protection) and the only one the Lakers have left to offer is a 2031 first they\u2019ve been clutching tightly for years,\u201d Grange reported at the time.<\/p>\n

They ultimately used that pick in the\u00a0rescinded\u00a0Mark Williams\u00a0deal.<\/p>\n

Addressing their lack of size is the Lakers\u2019 top priority after the Minnesota Timberwolves smothered their small-ball lineup en route to a gentleman sweep in the first round despite being the No. 6 seed and the latter having the homecourt advantage for the first time since 2012.<\/p>\n

Traditional Center vs. Athletic Rim Runner<\/h2>\n

It should be noted that the Lakers\u2019 interest in the Toronto center was before they acquired\u00a0Luka Don\u010di\u0107, who prefers playing with an athletic rim-runner and lob threat.<\/p>\n

Poeltl is neither of those.<\/p>\n

The 7-foot Austrian center is a traditional center who operates in the low block. He is a strong rebounder, a decent passer and a solid rim protector.<\/p>\n

The 29-year-old center averaged 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks.<\/p>\n

However, Lakers president Rob Pelinka shared they are not locked in on one type of center, which Don\u010di\u0107 prefers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would be great to have a center that was a vertical threat, lob threat, and someone that could protect the interior defensively,\u201d Pelinka told reporters during his end-of-season press conference. \u201cI think those would be key. But there\u2019s multiple different types of centers that can be very effective in the league. There\u2019s also spread centers that can protect the rim. We\u2019ll look at those as well. So\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t want to limit the archetype, but we know we need a big man.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Other Center Options<\/h2>\n

The Lakers $70 million worth of expiring contract to use in a trade along with their 2031 first-round pick.<\/p>\n

But if Poeltl isn\u2019t available, the Lakers might have to look for another deal.<\/p>\n

Other options in the trade market include Portland\u2019s\u00a0Robert Williams III\u00a0or Brooklyn\u2019s\u00a0Nic Claxton.<\/p>\n

And if no trade is feasible, the Lakers will have plenty of options available in the free agent market, which include Atlanta\u2019s\u00a0Clint Capela, Minnesota\u2019s\u00a0Naz Reid\u00a0(player option), Milwaukee\u2019s\u00a0Brook Lopez, Indiana\u2019s\u00a0Myles Turner\u00a0and champion centers\u00a0Al Horford\u00a0of Boston and Golden State\u2019s\u00a0Kevon Looney.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Los Angeles Lakers could revisit their trade interest in Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl this summer, Hoopshype\u2019s Michael Scotto reported after the NBA Draft lottery results…. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":62596,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-62595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\nRUMORS: Lakers Linked to $20 Million Center After NBA Draft Lottery - News 365<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=62595\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"RUMORS: Lakers Linked to $20 Million Center After NBA Draft Lottery - 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