Lakers Reportedly 'Especially Active' Eyeing Centers on Trade Market amid NBA Rumors

As expected, the Los Angeles Lakers are likely to be aggressive in upgrading at center this offseason, according to ClutchPoints' Anthony Irwin.

Irwin reported president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka "has been especially active" already, and he has emphasized the Lakers "need centers, plural."

Los Angeles had a void in its frontcourt before it traded Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks. The problem only got worse once he left and the deal for Charlotte Hornets big Mark Williams fell through.

Irwin spoke to an executive from an Eastern Conference team who said Pelinka is at a disadvantage because everyone knows he wants a center and will pay big for one. The Lakers were prepared to send rookie wing Dalton Knecht, veteran Cam Reddish, a 2031 first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap to Charlotte for Williams.

"The problem Rob is running into is that anyone who has a big who can walk and chew gum is going to start talks with Dalton and a first, then go up from there if their center can actually play," the anonymous exec said.

Free agency is unlikely to be fertile ground for L.A. The team has a $191.6 million payroll before factoring in any new additions, and the market tails off pretty quickly once you get past Myles Turner and Naz Reid.

That leaves a trade as the best option.

The stars aligned perfectly for Pelinka to get Luka Dončić, a young cornerstone talent who can anchor the organization when LeBron James retires. He's probably not going to be that fortunate again with his pursuit of a center.