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NBA Scouts And Execs Reveal Lakers' Best Trade Assets For 2025 Offseason

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated May 16, 2025 12:10 PM ET

After acquiring Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in February, the Los Angeles Lakers were projected to compete for the championship this year.

However, despite having Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves, the Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs in five games under first-year head coach JJ Redick.

Los Angeles needs a center alongside Doncic, James and Reaves. Redick played without a center in the second half of Game 4 and all of Game 5 against the Timberwolves.

Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka told local reporters at his end-of-the-season press conference that he will attempt to acquire a center this offseason. Pelinka will have to part ways with players and draft picks to acquire a big man.

According to Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times, NBA scouts and execs have identified the Lakers' best trade assets.

"According to rival scouts and executives, the Lakers' best assets (minus Reaves) are their 2031 first-round pick, second-year wing Dalton Knecht and a bunch of expiring contracts," Woike wrote. "Some combination of them would be a must in any deal the team would make for a center."

Pelinka thought he acquired the perfect center for Doncic and James when he traded Knecht, Cam Reddish and a future first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams.

However, the trade was rescinded after Williams failed his physical with the Lakers.

Woike is reporting that the Lakers are not interested in trading Reaves unless the deal nets them a "top-tier big." It appears Pelinka will have to use Knecht, his 2031 first-round pick and expiring contracts to land a center for Doncic and James this summer.

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

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