Ideal Trade Scenario for Lakers to Secure Center for LeBron-Doncic Duo
The Los Angeles Lakers can make a strong move in the market and acquire the ideal center to complement their new Luka Doncic and LeBron James pairing.
The Lakers caused a major stir in the NBA by completing a blockbuster trade to acquire Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks. In the process, they gave up Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and their 2029 first-round pick. However, they gained what may be the most dominant offensive guard of the last five years. Moreover, Doncic is a 25-year-old in the prime of his career, giving the Lakers a future to build on after LeBron’s eventual retirement.
While the Lakers’ roster is currently imbalanced, they now have more flexibility to make significant moves as they establish a clear long-term direction. Trade assets that were previously off-limits are now available, as the Lakers shift their focus to a win-now timeline centered around Doncic rather than LeBron. While LeBron will still be an important contributor, the team needs to find the right pieces to support the new vision.
With the loss of Anthony Davis, the Lakers currently have no reliable centers on the roster. Luka Doncic has shown that he thrives with a capable center, making it essential for the Lakers to aggressively pursue a trade with the Brooklyn Nets for a center.
Lakers’ Top Center Target: Nicolas Claxton
Following the addition of Doncic, the Lakers’ primary center target should be Nicolas Claxton. The Lakers need to shift their focus away from Walker Kessler and pursue a versatile big like Claxton, who can protect the rim, finish lob passes, and run the floor. Both LeBron and Doncic are ideally suited to maximize the potential of a center like Claxton, and his addition could elevate the Lakers to the top contenders in the West.
Lakers Lack a Reliable Big Man
When reviewing the Lakers’ revamped roster, the only noticeable gap is the absence of a true center. While they could benefit from adding a point-of-attack defender, the current center rotation has been inadequate. Anthony Davis had been urging the team to add another center, but the Lakers instead traded him to a team with two elite big men who thrive alongside Doncic.
Rather than depending on Jaxson Hayes or Doncic’s former teammate Christian Wood, the Lakers need to target Claxton. This season, Claxton is averaging 9.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks. While his production has dipped since the Nets stopped being contenders, he flourished when playing as a solid center alongside star players.
Claxton’s best seasons came with James Harden as his point guard, so it’s reasonable to expect that both Doncic and LeBron could unlock his full potential, especially with his increased experience. Despite being on a struggling team, Claxton’s statistics don’t reflecthis true value,