Lakers Trade Rumors, Latest Buzz Ahead of 2025 NBA Draft, Free Agency

The 2025 NBA offseason is very much on with the trade market already moving, the draft's opening round tipping off Wednesday night and free agency sitting just around the corner.

So, when are the Los Angeles Lakers going to address their glaring void at the center spot? It better be sooner than later, because interior options are about to start drying up around the Association.

Time is clearly of the essence, so we'll act accordingly by diving right into the latest buzz in Laker land.

Lakers Have Questions About Nic Claxton?

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Nic Claxton has long loomed as one of the more logical targets in the Lakers' center search. He's a high-level defender who offers both paint protection and switchability, and he offers enough bounce to potentially thrive as a pick-and-roll partner for Luka Dončić.

Yet, the Lakers seem uncertain about Claxton being the best big to address their issues. As The Athletic's Dan Woike put it, "Claxton isn't thought of as a shoo-in as the answer at the position."

Quick question: Why not? Sure, Claxton wasn't great this past season, but it's not like he was operating under great conditions in Brooklyn. The Nets had plenty of perimeter leaks on the defensive end, and their offense was often run by score-first lead guards and not floor generals.

Claxton, who only turned 26 in April, checks virtually all of the necessary-skills boxes for the next Lakers' big man. And he presumably shouldn't cost an arm and a leg, since he's an awkward timeline fit with the rebuilding Nets. Unless the trade price is unreasonable, L.A. needs to rethink this.

Dončić Committed to His Conditioning?

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Given how much has already been said about Dončić's physical conditioning, it's no surprise to hear an early #MuscleWatch report on L.A.'s latest centerpiece.

And, good news for Lakers fans, it sounds like the prolific point guard is absolutely crushing it.

"Dončić has been incredibly committed to his conditioning this offseason," The Athletic's Dan Woike noted. "He's dropped significant weight and is working on strict diet and cardio training, according to a source with knowledge of the plan. In a shift from his normal offseason, he spent a month away from on-court work to focus more on his body. Dončić has looked visibly slimmer in photos and is now back working out with Slovenia readying for EuroBasket competition later this summer."

A slimmer, trimmer Dončić could be a nightmare proposition for the rest of the NBA. Whether that results in a more explosive burst, fresher legs deeper into the postseason, a deeper stamina source, better defensive effort or—if you want to get really greedy—some combination of all of the above, you're talking about an established great having a real opportunity to get...well, greater. That's scary stuff.

Jazz Options Off the Table for Lakers?

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The Lakers' center search has spent its fair share of time in Salt Lake City. They're clearly enamored with Utah Jazz defensive anchor Walker Kessler, and they've also been linked with bouncy big man John Collins.

Ultimately, though, it doesn't sound like the Jazz will give the Lakers what they want.

For starters, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Jazz "have made Kessler unavailable for some time." And in that same report, Stein labeled L.A.'s rumored interest in Collins as "a mischaracterization."

While it's worth taking every report this time of year with a not insignificant serving of salt, it feels like there are legs here. Kessler has given Utah plenty of reasons to consider him as a true building block—or at least worth more than what L.A. has to offer. And while Collins could be a fun offensive fit as a lob-finisher and capable outside shooter, he'd do nothing to address this team's defensive concerns.