NBA Trade Rumors: 6-foot-9 defensive anchor emerges as sleeper pick in Lakers’ 5-man center shortlist

It’s no secret that the LA Lakers are looking to bring in a couple of centers in the offseason. The latest NBA trade rumors suggest that they have a five-man shortlist that includes a 6-foot-9 defensive anchor. However, general manager Rob Pelinka is already facing hurdles in his quest to improve the roster around LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

According to ClutchPoints’ Anthony Irwin, Robert Williams III of the Portland Trail Blazers is one of the three targets by the Lakers for their starting center. Williams has been hobbled by injuries since getting acquired by the Blazers last season, but he’s always fantastic when healthy.

The other two starting options for the purple and gold are Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz and Nic Claxton of the Brooklyn Nets. Williams is probably the cheapest among the three options due to being injury-prone, while Kessler and Claxton are two of the best young defensive centers in the league.

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Robert Williams III played in just 20 games this season, averaging 5.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. He has only appeared in 26 games over the past two years, so his value is not at an all-time high.

On the other hand, Walker Kessler is still in his rookie contract and is coming off the best season of his career. He put up 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 66.3% from the field.

Nic Claxton is entering the second year of a four-year, $100 million contract. The annual value of his deal is decreasing, so it's a team-friendly deal. As for backup center options, the LA Lakers are reportedly eyeing Brook Lopez and Clint Capela.

At age 37, Lopez is still capable of starting but is more suited as a backup at this point. Capela is younger, though he has been battling injuries over the past two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks. The Swiss big man is also more suited as a lob threat than Lopez.

Former NBA exec explains why Lakers are having a hard time getting a center

Speaking to ClutchPoints' Anthony Irwin, a former NBA executive shared his thoughts on why the LA Lakers will have a hard time acquiring a big man this summer. It's all about desperation and the rest of the league knowing how badly they need it.

"The worst spot you can put yourself in is trying to negotiate while everyone knows about your desperation," the former exec said. "The whole league knows that not only do the Lakers need a starting center and probably a backup, but they need to bring someone in who Luka is going to want to play with."

The former exec added that the purple and gold franchise's only hope is to have another desperate team in need to even the playing field and the market.

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About the author

Juan Paolo David

Juan Paolo is a journalist for Sportskeeda who covers the NBA and WNBA. He's been writing about basketball since 2015 and has been with Sportskeeda since 2021.

Juan's allegiance lies with the Golden State Warriors and his journey with the Warriors began with their memorable victory over the Lakers in 2000, and he experienced the successes of the 'We Believe' era and the rise of Steph Curry. 

What Juan loves most about basketball is its ability to evoke a range of emotions, from adrenaline-fueled excitement to the highs of victory and the lows of defeat. To ensure complete accuracy in articles, he conducts thorough research before writing his articles.

The Warriors' victories in the 2022 and 2017 championships hold a special place in Juan's memories, as well as iconic moments like Baron Davis' dunk over Andrei Kirilenko and Goran Dragic's performance in the 2010 Western Conference semifinals.

Off the court, Juan enjoys watching football, TV and movies, caring for his numerous cats, and cooking whenever time permits.

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