Lakers star Anthony Davis told ESPN’s Shams Charania last week that he believes the team needs to add another center, but league sources inform Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link) that Bulls center Nikola Vucevic and Raptors center Jakob Poeltl aren’t viewed as likely targets for Los Angeles.
As Stein explains, the Bulls continue to seek a first-round pick in exchange for Vucevic, while the Raptors’ asking price for Poeltl – a player they prefer to keep – is thought to be even higher than that. Both players are also earning in the $20MM range, which may be more than the Lakers want to spend on another big man, Stein adds.
Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas, who has a $9.9MM salary and is unlikely to cost more than second-round draft capital, still appears to be the most “gettable” big man on the trade market for the Lakers, according to Stein, though he cautions that there’s still no “substantial momentum” toward a deal between Los Angeles and Washington.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter video link) said during an appearance on NBA Countdown on Saturday that the Lakers have attempted to trade for Jazz center Walker Kessler “many times,” but haven’t been able to meet Utah’s “steep” asking price. “I’m sure they’ll keep trying,” Charania said. However, Stein wrote today that Kessler is believed to be “as close to unavailable as it gets.”
- While the Lakers remain on the lookout for additional reinforcements on the trade market, last month’s acquisition of Dorian Finney-Smith has been a success so far. As Dan Woike writes for The Los Angeles Times, Finney-Smith has made both a “tangible and intangible” impact during his first month in L.A., giving the team toughness and three-point shooting on the court and quickly becoming a locker room favorite off the court. “Doe is comfortable with who he is — like the player, the person,” head coach J.J. Redick said. “And in my experience… people that are like that, people gravitate towards that. People want to follow that. That’s what Doe is.” The Lakers are outscoring opponents by 10.7 points per 100 possessions with Finney-Smith on the court.
- A week ago, LeBron James said the Lakers have little “room for error.” Since then, the team has gone 3-0, outscoring its opponents by 54 points in those three games. With forward Jarred Vanderbilt back in action and several other role players giving L.A. good minutes, Khobi Price of The Orange Country Register considers whether the club’s margin for error has widened.
Jazz center Walker Kessler Remaining contract
2 Years $8 million
Who is more affordable?
His contract is nice, but it’s probably going to take 2 1st rounders and something else to get him.
Yes, it would cost any team trying to trade for him at least 2 1st. Utah is a rebuilding team and Kessler is exactly the type of player they would be wanting in return in a trade as a young player on a rookie contract that can be part of the future. They aren’t looking to trade him so in order to get him you have to offer something that Utah couldnt pass up
Poeltl remaining contract: 3 Years $58 million
Lakers have $198 million team salary next season. It is not easy to manage the salary.
58 or 8?
Lakers would prefer low cost
Ainge doing the lakers a favour? Likely story.
Kessler can be had, its Rob who needs to budge~ Your probably going to just have to pay the 15% extra sales tax as Danny has top of the hill firmly entrenched
While not ideal, sometimes you just have to overpay a little based on the circumstance, this is that situation Imo (Think Bridges NYK)
Not sure Rob understands much on a deeper level than what you see in an avg Fansided article (he apparently didn’t understand how the last CBA worked year 1 with salary matching and got dunked on by other GMS around the league )
It’s true. The Lakers GM has been pretty stingy in trades. However, that’s also the market in the last few years.
In Walker’s case, the Jazz flat out don’t want to trade him. He’s one of the bright spots for the Jazz this season. He’s also one of their few defenders. It’ll take a WOW! to get him from the Jazz.
They both have a value system, their both probably relatively the same on it when they punch their separate calculations in
Rob just needs to willingly pay the 115% not 100% like he is trying to get and Kessler is in a Lakers jersey .
I hope Danny wins in the end!