{"id":70899,"date":"2025-06-18T07:32:51","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T07:32:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=70899"},"modified":"2025-06-18T07:32:51","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T07:32:51","slug":"inside-the-lakers-plans-five-big-men-drawing-special-attention-this-offseason","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=70899","title":{"rendered":"Inside the Lakers\u2019 Plans: Five Big Men Drawing Special Attention This Offseason"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The Lakers are targeting five centers\u2014Nic Claxton, Robert Williams III, Walker Kessler, Brook Lopez, and Clint Capela\u2014as they look to build a new core around Luka Doncic and add size and depth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The\u00a0Los Angeles Lakers\u00a0are actively searching for a new starting center, and five names have emerged as key targets.<\/p>\n

According to\u00a0Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints, the LA Lakers have shown interest in\u00a0Nic Claxton,\u00a0Robert Williams III, and\u00a0Walker Kessler\u00a0on the trade market.<\/p>\n

They’re also monitoring\u00a0Brook Lopez\u00a0and\u00a0Clint Capela\u00a0as potential backup options once they secure their starting center.<\/p>\n

“Sources close to the team reiterated that the internal plan is to trade for their starting center \u2013 sources say they’ve held conversations with other teams about Nic Claxton, Robert Williams, Walker Kessler and others \u2013 then, ideally, use the taxpayer midlevel on his backup \u2013 Brook Lopez and Clint Capela are the two names most often linked to the Lakers. It’s a solid plan that they’re considered likely to be able to execute,” Irwin reported.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Lakers’ current focus is building the roster around Luka Doncic, who arrived in Los Angeles in early February.<\/p>\n

Since the team wasn’t originally built with Doncic in mind, the front office is shifting gears to support their new star better.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"\"To improve the center position, the Lakers have over $40 million in expiring contracts between Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and Maxi Kleber.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

They also control one tradable first-round pick\u2014either their 2031 or 2032 selection. These are the primary trade assets.<\/p>\n

Austin Reaves could also become a trade chip if the right opportunity arises.<\/p>\n

\n

Because the Lakers won’t have cap space this offseason, acquiring a starting center will likely require a trade.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

However, executing a deal will not be easy.\u00a0Jovan Buha of The Athletic\u00a0noted that acquiring Kessler, in particular, may be unrealistic due to the Utah Jazz’s high asking price and the Lakers’ limited draft capital.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Lakers are targeting five centers\u2014Nic Claxton, Robert Williams III, Walker Kessler, Brook Lopez, and Clint Capela\u2014as they look to build a new core around Luka Doncic… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":70905,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-70899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\nInside the Lakers\u2019 Plans: Five Big Men Drawing Special Attention This Offseason - 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=70899\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Inside the Lakers\u2019 Plans: Five Big Men Drawing Special Attention This Offseason - 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