Report: Lakers Have Tried To Trade For Nic Claxton, Robert Williams, Walker Kessler

According to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints, the Los Angeles Lakers have tried to trade for Nic Claxton of the Brooklyn Nets, Robert Williams of the Portland Trail Blazers and Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz. 

The Lakers need to acquire a center this offseason after trading Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade. 

Claxton will make $25,352,272 next season, Williams will make $13,285,713 in the final year of his contract and Kessler will make $4,878,938.

“Sources close to the team reiterated that the internal plan is to trade for their starting center – sources say they’ve held conversations with other teams about Nic Claxton, Robert Williams, Walker Kessler and others – then, ideally, use the taxpayer midlevel on his backup – Brook Lopez and Clint Capela are the two names most often linked to the Lakers,” Irwin wrote.

“It’s a solid plan that they’re considered likely to be able to execute. But, because of their clear and desperate need at the position, such an approach is going to be a lot more complicated than it would’ve been had they not neglected the position the past couple of seasons.”

The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of this year’s playoffs in five games. Their lack of size prevented them from competing with Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle and Naz Reid. 

Rob Pelinka told local reporters during his end-of-the-season press conference that he will attempt to acquire a center this offseason. 

“We know this offseason, one of our primary goals is going to be to add size in our frontcourt at the center position,” Pelinka said. “This roster needs more size and needs a center. That’s a very clear and obvious by-product of trading potentially the best big in the league to Dallas to get a point guard. Of course, that’s going to open up a huge hole.

“The trade deadline and the moments up to it don’t allow you the requisite time to explore every single unturned stone to add a big to our roster. We just didn’t have the time after the Luka trade. But now we do.”