Lakers Realistic Center Targets Revealed

The Los Angeles Lakers have a clear hole on their roster: the center position. Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka will have a big task to address their most notable need over the off-season.

One of the main things that Luka Doncic loves is a rim-running big man who can catch lobs. This archetype allows him to run pick and rolls in an effective manner, putting pressure on the defense to focus on either him or the center.

Whenever he had major success with the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic had that kind of player that he could rely on. Often, they would not be extremely talented but rather possess the skillset that Doncic can elevate due to his playmaking ability.

During Pelinka's exit interview after the team's first-round elimination, he made it clear that the center position will be a priority.

“In terms of center traits, it would be great to have a center that was a vertical threat, lob threat, and someone that could protect the interior defensively,” Pelinka told the media.

“Those would be key. But there’s multiple different types of centers that can be very effective in the league.

“There’s also spread centers that can protect the rim. We’ll look at those as well. I wouldn’t want to limit the archetype, but we know we need a big man.”

Lakers writer for the Orange County Register, Khobi Price, published a list of potential targets that the team can viably acquire via trade or free agency, all of which have featured in various rumors and reports around the league.

Daniel Gafford

One of the most common names linked to the Lakers is Daniel Gafford, who is the starting center for the Mavs, oddly enough.

He provides excellent rim protection and can finish lobs well. His touch around the rim is also impressive, with a field goal percentage of 78 percent last season.

His trade value is lower than it likely should be, given that he is on an expiring deal and will likely demand starting center money via an extension.