The Los Angeles Lakers seem “laser focused” on landing a big man in the offseason, according to a Western Conference executive.
The exec said that L.A. simply can’t “can’t compete” in the West with its current center situation.
“Anything can happen, and cap space gives you so much optionality, but in the end they seem to be laser focused on a big man,” the executive said, per Heavy Sports. “You can’t compete in the West with what they have in the middle.”
Los Angeles has been looking for a solid big man ever since it traded away Anthony Davis as part of the deal that brought Luka Doncic to L.A., and it didn’t find the answer with former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton in the 2025-26 season.
Ayton appeared in 72 regular-season games for the Lakers and averaged 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 block per game while shooting 67.1 percent from the field. He and Jaxson Hayes handled a lot of the center minutes for Los Angeles in the regular season and playoffs, but L.A. ultimately came up short, losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round.
The Lakers were swept in that series, and they don’t have a player that can really handle some of the best bigs in the West, such as Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama. Not many teams have players that are equipped to handle those stars, but the Lakers clearly don’t have great options in Ayton and Hayes and could really use an upgrade as they build around Doncic.
Hayes is a free agent in the offseason, and Ayton has a player option that he could decline to become a free agent. So, it’s possible that the Lakers enter the offseason with a massive hole at center once again, leaving them to free agency or the trade market to improve the spot. On the contrary, if one or both players return, it’s unclear what that would do to L.A.’s vision at the position.
The Lakers’ run in the 2026 postseason wasn’t bad since Doncic (hamstring) didn’t play in a single game, but it’s clear the team needs a little more to take the next step in the West.
Since Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James are all such great playmakers, the Lakers may be able to get away with a center that isn’t super talented offensively but can hold his own on the defensive end.
There could be some intriguing options on the market, especially since Walker Kessler and Jalen Duren are set to become restricted free agents, but it’s unclear if the Lakers will actually end up landing an impact center before the start of the 2026-27 season.
