Lakers Predicted to Sign 31-Year-Old Center This Offseason

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 6:32 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers need to acquire a center this offseason for All-Stars Luka Doncic and LeBron James after trading Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Doncic in February.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick started Jaxson Hayes at center after the Davis-Doncic trade. However, the Duke product benched the former New Orleans Pelicans big man in the second half of Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves and the whole of Game 5.

The Lakers lost to the Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games.

During his end-of-the-season press conference, Rob Pelinka told local reporters that he would try acquiring a center this offseason, and one NBA analyst predicts that the Lakers will sign a 31-year-old veteran in free agency.

Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report predicted the Lakers will sign Atlanta Hawks big man Clint Capela, who will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Capela is not expected to return to the Hawks.

"Prediction: Capela may be a stopgap for the Los Angeles Lakers via the TMLE (Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception)," Pincus wrote.

Capela played in 55 games for Atlanta this season. He averaged 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 55.9% from the field and 53.6% from the free-throw line.

Doncic and James are two of the best passers in the NBA. Capela, who has thrived playing with James Harden and Trae Young, would likely get easy baskets at the rim all season playing with Doncic and James on the Lakers.

Capela has played for the Houston Rockets and Hawks. He has career averages of 12.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 664 NBA games.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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