Rob Pelinka Says Lakers Will 'Turn Over Every Stone' in Trades, FA to Find Center

Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka told reporters his team will "turn over every stone" to look for a center as the team heads toward free agency.

The Lakers previously attempted to bring in a center by adding Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets last February, but the deal was rescinded after a failed physical, per Greg Beacham of the Associated Press.

The 23-year-old has since been traded to the Phoenix Suns, per ESPN's Shams Charania on Wednesday.

L.A. needs a starting big man to help round out a team that received a massive boost last February after acquiring guard Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks. However, the Lakers parted with forward/center Anthony Davis in that deal, creating a frontcourt hole that the team must address.

Charania reported on Thursday's edition of Get Up! that people in L.A. and around the league are waiting on whether the Lakers pursue a center in free agency or via trade.

"Will it be that route, or will it be the trade route? That's what everyone in L.A., everyone around the league, is waiting on," he said.

During the playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers were essentially playing small ball, with 6'7" forward Dorian Finney-Smith even entering the starting lineup in Game 5. That matchup, which resulted in a series-ending 103-96 loss, saw Wolves big man Rudy Gobert amass 24 rebounds. Minnesota outrebounded Los Angeles 54-37 overall.

So, it's understood what the Lakers need to get done this offseason, as Charania further noted.

"It's clear their biggest need is at center. Rob Pelinka has spoken about it ad nauseam that they need to find that," he said. "Now, will that be in the draft? Will that be in free agency? One thousand percent, that's the question."

The Lakers have options via trade. Per Andy Larsen of the The Salt Lake Tribune on the Locked on Jazz podcast (h/t Corey Hansford of Lakers Nation), an offer has reportedly been made for Jazz big man Walker Kessler.

"I think there's been an offer presented for Walker Kessler," Larsen said. "Certainly the Lakers have shown significant interest all the way back to the trade deadline, certainly continuing now. Him being their future of the center, giving up multiple picks to get there, that is on the table right now. I don't know if the Jazz take it, certainly they haven't so far."

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford and Brooklyn Nets big man Nic Claxton have also been mentioned, but Dan Woike of The Athletic threw cold water on both ideas Tuesday:

"The talk at the start of the Lakers' offseason was that Dallas' Daniel Gafford and Brooklyn's Nic Claxton were the two players who made the most sense. There just remains so much leaguewide skepticism that the Mavericks could optically make another trade with the Lakers after the open revolt of the fanbase following the Dončić deal. Claxton isn't thought of as a shoo-in as the answer at the position, and if he costs you your best trade package, is it a gamble worth doing?"

Ultimately, the Lakers can't go into the offseason with the situation as it is at center. That clearly hurt the team in last year's playoffs, and L.A. needs to do whatever it can to fix the situation in hopes of a much deeper postseason run.