With recent reports that the Lakers are out on Vuc, Poeltl and the Jazz not realistically trading Kessler, what should the Lakers do? In this post I am gonna go after the potential targets and their pros and cons. Let me know what you think as well.
Robert Williams III: RWIII is probably the best defensive center available now out of who is left.
Pros:
Great on Defense
An actual starting caliber center that would satisfy AD's request
On a cheap cost controlled contract
Super athletic
Young enough to be able to flip him in a few years to recoup assets.
Cons:
Injury prone, he has never played a full season in his career, and this year he has barely played as well. Puts into question his availability.
Cost? It sounds like portland is looking for first round draft capital for him.
Another issue with trading for RWIII which will be the same for other centers on this list, who is going out to get him? Most likely it will have to be Gabe. Gabe as of late has been really good and he is your only viable guard off the bench so he will have to be replaced with a sequential move.
Jonas Valančiūnas (God please no): Jonas' name has been linked to the Lakers since last summer where the Lakers were not willing to give him the money he was looking for so he went to the wizards.
Pros:
Solid rebounder
Big body miyagi 6'11" 265LBS
Decent scorer, he can take advantage and get you a bucket if a smaller defender is on him
Potentially cheap to get? (Will address this later)
Next year will be an expiring contract.
Cons:
God awful defender. If he is on the court he will get put in a pick and roll and be cooked every time.
32 Years old and has already shown signs of regression.
Won't have any resale value.
Despite people calling him a "stretch big" he is a very low volume shooter and if he is posted on the 3 point line he will be doing more harm for you than good.
Same issue with trading for Jonas as RWIII, the player going out will have to be Gabe and to be honest you will be making the roster worst by replacing Gabe with Jonas.
Myles Turner:
Pros:
Good shot blocker (5th in the league in total blocks)
Great spacer
Decent defender
Dream pairing with AD
Young enough to be able to flip in a few year to recoup assets.
Cons:
Availability? I doubt he is even available. Everyone mis aggregated Jovan Buha and ran with this idea that he is available when all Jovan said was the pacers may not want to pay him so he may become available.
Has to be paid. This offseason he is he will be looking for a new contract likely being one for 30 mil a year
UFA, Turner is an UFA and can walk this summer for free.
To conclude here. I doubt Myles is even available, if he is though I would trade 1 if not both FRP to get him on this team as I think he is the best center in the league to pair with AD.
Day'Ron Sharpe: I am not gonna go too in depth regarding Day'Ron but if the Lakers were going to get him he would have been in the DFS trade and even if we can get him it would be kind of a slap to AD's face for him to request a center and you bring a young unproven player who most likely will not play more than 15-20 minutes in a meaningful game.
Bruce Brown: Brown has been linked to the Lakers since the 2023 off-season when the Lakers thought he was signing with them for the MLE until the Pacers swooped in and overpaid for him.
Pros:
Good defender
Good rebounder
Capable playmaker
Would be great to pair with AR.
Could be your starting 2-guard or come off the bench.
Respectable shooter.
Championship experience.
Cons:
Brown is making 23 mil this year and to get him it would most likely have to be a deal centered around Rui, meaning you cant use Rui's 18 mil elsewhere.
UFA this offseason and can leave for nothing
Has been injured most of this season and there is still concerns there.
Lonzo Ball:
Pros:
Good defender
Great secondary playmaker
Good primary playmaker
Good shooter, despite his 3 point % being low this season I chalk that up to rust as his shooting has been slowly coming around.
A perfect fit next to AR
Cons:
Injury, injury, injury. Need I say more?
Similar to Brown, Ball is making 21 mil this year and to get him it would most likely have to be a deal centered around Rui, meaning you cant use Rui's 18 mil elsewhere.
UFA this offseason and can walk for nothing.
After laying down all the options like this it starts to look grim for the Lakers trade deadline success chances. One thing I didnt talk about was FA's on the market. All there really is are Markelle Fultz and..... that's it really as DSJ has signed in europe and is not able to come back to the NBA this season.... I think Markelle would be serviceable his shooting is a real concern but if the Lakers can free up a roster spot bring him in for a 10 day and see what he can do.
Let me know how you guys feel, and if I missed anyone.