After having backed out of a trade-deadline deal for Mark Williams due to concerns about his physical, the Lakers find themselves shorthanded at the five. Jaxson Hayes is the only healthy center on the 15-man roster, with Christian Wood still recovering from knee surgery and two-way players Christian Koloko and Trey Jemison ineligible to play in the postseason.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter video link), the Lakers are expected to make a move soon to add more depth in their frontcourt.
“I’m told the Lakers are pursuing multiple big men in the marketplace right now,” Charania said during an appearance on ESPN’s NBA Today on Tuesday. “They know they need some size. … I would expect the Lakers to move on a potential big man in the next 24 to 48 hours. They are working. Rob Pelinka and that front office are trying to acquire a center.”
The current list of free agent centers isn’t particularly inspiring, but there are a few veteran options who might make sense for Los Angeles, including Daniel Theis, Alex Len, Mohamed Bamba, and Moses Brown.
Theis is reportedly on the verge of signing with AS Monaco in Europe, but the others figure to be on the Lakers’ radar. Len was reportedly on track to sign with the Pacers over the weekend, but that deal fell through, fueling speculation that he might be pivoting to L.A. — Marc Stein reports (via Twitter) that the Lakers are “prominent” among the teams with interest in the Ukranian big man.
Within a discussion about possible frontcourt targets for the Lakers, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic suggests it’s worth keeping an eye on the international market too. According to Vecenie, Australian center Will Magnay, who is currently playing for the Tasmania JackJumpers, has an NBA out clause in his deal and has recently drawn interest from NBA teams.
If and when the Lakers do sign a free agent center, they’ll have to waive a player to do so, since their 15-man roster is currently full. Reporting on Monday indicated that Wood and Cam Reddish are among the team’s top release candidates. Neither one is owed any guaranteed money beyond this season.
While it sounds like the Lakers will likely add a center sooner rather than later, it’s worth noting that the club has just one more game before the All-Star break – on Wednesday vs. Utah – so if a signing hasn’t been finalized by that point, it could wait until next week.
Biyamboooooooo
Isn’t he like 6’7”?
6’9″ with a 7’6″ wingspan, always been a good rebounder and rim protector which is all be would need to be in LA.
We want Okafor actually
How about Hasheem THABEET !!!
Or first man in the shower Dwight Howard
Noel sitting angry right now at Rich Paul
Ibaka is still blocking
Greg Monroe where are you
Please give Thomas Robinson a chance, a 10 day contract someone
Cousins actually looks decent
Random question
Does anyone notice the NCAA scoring leaders are at a all time low. One guy from Green Bay was leading but then had problems with coach and had disappeared from the stats and games.
23.8 is the number one scoring leader from a college super seiner (5 years or more. Post in GS is one)
Then their are maybe nine other guys scoring 20 points a game but that has to be an all time low in the scoring leaders (new to college basketball, started watching and scouting more because the NBA is straight …. and I know everything about the past of the NBA and every player ever and what every team should have done. I know every player now. Weakest era ever.
So college basketball because this new NBA is Rlllplllljhh. Uh officer he said his name is Ralph man
A super seiner named ralph from green bay leads in college basketball? Can we get a wellness check on this fella
Javale McGee on line one calling LBJ.
Can we get a wellness check on you. You picked out a couple words from what I wrote and then put them together making something up. Read a again casual.
Now read slowly now
A super senior is leading the NCAA in scoring at 23.8. About nine more players average 20 points per game. That must be all time low in scoring.
Green Bay is where another college athlete was leading the NCAA in scoring but he dropped out.
Ralph part is if you watch movies. Have you seen Cheech and Chong movies? You would understand if you have seen it. Get a clue kid
Thump City!