Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Lakers Target 6-Foot-10 Player Before NBA Trade Deadline

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Ishaan Bhattacharya | Last updated Feb 4, 2026 12:07 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers are 30-19 so far this season, 1.5 games behind the No. 4 seed Houston Rockets. The team has been competitive around the core of Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves, with many expecting moves to help solidify their status as contenders in the West.

Their 125-109 win over the Brooklyn Nets was the final Lakers game before the NBA trade deadline on February 5. There is rampant speculation around potential changes to the Lakers roster in the next two days, with the Lakers reportedly active in conversations around the NBA.

One of the key areas the Lakers are looking to fix on their roster is at center. After various moves around the NBA in the last 48 hours, the Lakers have reportedly emerged as suitors for 24-year-old Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic.

"Sources inside the Lakers locker room are fans of Brooklyn center Day’Ron Sharpe, who had 19 points and 14 rebounds in the Nets’ loss to the Lakers on Tuesday night."

Brooklyn Nets center Day'ron Sharpe (20) and Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) fight for a loose ball in the first quarter at Barclays Center. Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Sharpe would be a traditional center who can maximize performance within his role as a lob-catcher and rim-protector to help the Lakers. He's averaging 8.2 points and 6.6 rebounds this season.

He hasn't had a starting opportunity behind Nicolas Claxton in Brooklyn, but could thrive on the Lakers alongside dynamic guards like Doncic and Reaves.

Why the Lakers Should Prioritise a Center Addition

The Lakers center rotation of Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes has left more to be desired, especially alongside Doncic, who thrives with explosive rim-running centers. This was proven during Doncic's run to the 2024 NBA Finals with Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford. The instant chemistry Doncic had with them bodes well for any similar stylistic additions the Lakers make.

Ayton is averaging 13.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks this season, but with questions around his long-term fit in LA. Hayes is averaging 6.4 points and 3.8 rebounds, serving as a decent backup center option. Adding someone like Sharpe could make Ayton expendable, who is on a two-year, $16.2 million contract with a player option.

Sharpe is on a $6.25 million contract this season, with the Lakers likely hoping former first-round pick Dalton Knecht can help them drive this trade home. However, the Lakers might need to use draft compensation to make this happen. This could be a tall ask for the franchise, who have only one tradeable first-round pick at the moment.

Sharpe might be a decent budget addition, which improves the Lakers' competitive chances this season, but it's hard to imagine him being the kind of difference maker who can help them compete atop the West.

While Sharpe might provide a better on-court fit than what they have right now, it's not the silver bullet that could make them contenders in an ultra-competitive Western Conference.

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

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