Lakers' desperation remains their biggest weakness

It's no secret that the Los Angeles Lakers are looking for a new center. Luka Doncic has thrived when sharing the court with an athletic rim-runner, therefore, general manager Rob Pelinka has a clear goal this summer. 

In an ideal world, the Lakers would add more than one center. Not only do they need an athletic vertical spacer, but they could also use a floor-stretching five to help keep driving lanes open. 

According to a former NBA executive who recently spoke with Lakers insider Anthony Irwin, the fact that everyone knows what Los Angeles needs this summer is a significant obstacle. The former executive believes teams will be emboldened during trade negotiations, and they could use the Lakers' desperation as a bargaining chip.

“The worst spot you can put yourself in is trying to negotiate while everyone knows about your desperation,” the former executive told Anthony Irwin of Clutch Points. "The whole league knows that not only do the Lakers need a starting center and probably a backup, but they need to bring someone in who Luka is going to want to play with. They basically have to hope someone else reaches their current level of desperation so that the talks can be held on even footing.”

Keeping Doncic happy is the primary objective in Los Angeles. Therefore, Pelinka must find a way to give him the lob-threat that he craves. We saw how effective his partnership with Daniel Gafford became during their time together on the Dallas Mavericks. 

However, Pelinka must also ensure he's making moves that position the Lakers for sustained success. Overpaying to keep Doncic happy is not a great recipe, especially as the center position has been a problem area for Los Angeles in recent years. This past season, the Lakers were 26th in the NBA for rebounds per game, and 27th for offensive rebounds. 

Finding a big man for the future is certainly a primary focus this summer. However, if every deal comes at a premium, Pelinka may be wise to wait until closer to the trade deadline to give Doncic his long-term running mate.