Lakers Circling Trade Market With Eyes on Star Center: Report
November 24, 2024
4,200
The Los Angeles Lakers have started the new 2024-25 NBA season off with an encouraging record of 10-5. They have looked much more competitive than many would have expected, considering that the team’s front office brought back almost the same roster as last season.
More news: 76ers Star Joel Embiid to Miss Multiple Games Due to Troubling New Injury
Los Angeles was bounced out of the playoffs in the first round last year, but the Lakers believed things would be different this time around — even with much of the same roster. The team added a new head coach in JJ Redick to help fix the problems.
So far, Redick has made the Lakers look good, but the roster likely needs more talent if they want to contend for another title. One of the biggest weaknesses for Los Angeles is in the frontcourt.
The Lakers have been looking around the league for frontcourt help and they reportedly have an eye on landing a center before the trade deadline. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Los Angeles has a few names in mind.
“[Washington Wizards center] Jonas Valančiūnas is definitely a name that you continue to hear bandied about as a Lakers trade target… Jonas Valančiūnas is definitely available for trade in Washington, we’ve said that here before, we’re going to say that again until he is moved, until he is potentially moved let’s say before the Feb. trade deadline. One name that people have thrown out so far when you talk to scouts who they could potentially go to… [Portland Trail Blazers center] Robert Williams III, the return to health, return to the court center in Portland.”
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 16: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James #23 stand during a break in the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at… NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 16: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James #23 stand during a break in the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on November 16, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Lakers are looking for a center.
Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images
Valančiūnas has been linked to the Lakers since the offseason and his name has continuously come up for Los Angeles. The veteran big man is currently on a very team-friendly three-year, $30 million deal with the Wizards, making a potential trade between the two sides easier.
The big man is averaging 12.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 0.8 blocks per game. Valančiūnas is more of a scoring big man rather than a strong defender but pairing him with star Anthony Davis could do the Lakers wonders.
If Los Angeles were to go after Williams III, it would be more for his energy off the bench and defensive presence. Despite being undersized, Williams III is a good defender and strong rebounder.
Williams III has played in six games for the Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 10.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game. His presence behind Davis would benefit the Lakers more but it would likely cost more to land him.
Either option would be good for the Lakers if they want to improve their frontcourt before the postseason. Los Angeles wants to maximize the final years of the Davis, LeBron James pairing so adding another center could make a world of difference in the end.
For the latest NBA news, be sure to check out Newsweek Sports.
Um die besten Erfahrungen zu bieten, verwenden wir Technologien wie Cookies, um Geräteinformationen zu speichern und/oder darauf zuzugreifen. Wenn Sie diesen Technologien zustimmen, können wir Daten wie das Surfverhalten oder eindeutige IDs auf dieser Website verarbeiten. Die Nichteinwilligung oder der Widerruf der Einwilligung kann bestimmte Merkmale und Funktionen beeinträchtigen.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
