Lakers Must Find Key Piece for Luka Doncic, LA's Championship Hopes Amid Latest NBA Rumors

The Los Angeles Lakers have transitioned from the LeBron James Era to the Luka Doncic Era, signed Austin Reaves to a long-term contract, and acquired Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz, but even with the arrival of the latter, there remains a key area of the team's roster that must be addressed before the start of next season.

The center position has plagued the Lakers for at least three seasons now, with the lack of presence at the rim badly hurting their ability to win an NBA Championship. The organization knows it, too, according to a new report from Dan Woike of The Athletic.

He wrote, "The Lakers are, according to team and league sources, hunting for reinforcement at the center position. But that search won't be easy. The center market is largely a mess. In addition, the Lakers already have 16 guaranteed contracts and no open roster spots."

As it is currently, the team is relying almost exclusively on Kessler to be healthy and to find his fit early on with his new team. The 25-year-old missed nearly all of the 2025-26 season after suffering a posterior labral tear. While he is expected to be fine to start the year, any setback would be disastrous for the Lakers and their hopes of remaining a championship contender in a loaded Western Conference.

Behind Kessler on the depth chart is Kevon Looney, a 30-year-old center with 2.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 21 games with the New Orleans Pelicans last season. He is a durable, dependable player, but hardly the answer the Lakers want in a starting role for an extended period.

Neither Sandro Mamukelashvili nor Jarred Vanderbilt is a valid answer on a full-time basis, especially the latter, who has an injury history of his own.

Woike added, "Nick Richards, Drew Eubanks and Xavier Tillman are among the centers currently unsigned, and any team entertaining trading one of its centers will be operating from a strong position. Supply is low. Cost is high. And the Lakers might need to pay."

He listed Jericho Sims from Milwaukee, Jalen Smith from Chicago, and Karlo Matković of New Orleans as potential trade targets, but there are questions with all three and the possibility that the front office will not want to give up what would be required to execute a deal.

The Lakers will be able to score with any other team in the league. Unless it shores up the center position with a piece or two that can serve as insurance policies in the event of injury to or early struggles from Kessler, it will be a long season that likely ends without an 18th world championship.