With their initial big men targets signing elsewhere, the Los Angeles Lakers are running against time and resources to find their starting center.
According to Sam Amick and Dan Woike of The Athletic, the Lakers have their eyes on the top two remaining centers — Al Horford and Deandre Ayton — in the free agent market while still considering trading for one.
“Sources tell me that in addition to Deandre Ayton, the Lakers are still evaluating other options in free agency and via trade. Obviously, a crucial decision for the Lakers — we would expect an answer in the upcoming days,” Woike wrote on X.
GettyAl Horford is more of a stretch center than a lob threat which Luka Doncic wants to play with.
“Sources tell me and [Dan Woike] that Al Horford is also under serious consideration by the Lakers (in addition to the Warriors). As he says below, this might take some time,” Amick wrote on X, tweet-quoting Woike’s initial report.
Lakers Miss Out on Initial Targets
The Lakers were scheduled to meet with Brook Lopez and Clint Capela, NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported before free agency began Monday night.
But both centers chose to sign elsewhere.
Lopez spurned the Lakers and instead joined their crosstown rivals Los Angeles Clippers, while Capela joined ex-Laker Dorian Finney-Smith in Houston.
Both veteran centers signed for more than what the Lakers can offer.
Lopez agreed to a two-year, $18 million deal, per ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania. On the other hand, Capela agreed to a three-year, $21.5 million deal with the Rockets, Charania reported.
Almost all centers have been signed.
Kevon Looney left the Golden State Warriors for the New Orleans Pelicans on a two-year, $16 million deal, according to Charania. Day’Ron Sharpe agreed to return to the Brooklyn Nets on a two-year, $12 million deal, according to Hoopshype’s Michael Scotto.
Deandre Ayton-Luka Doncic Connection
Getty Deandre Ayton is a buyout candidate to fill the Los Angeles Lakers’ desperate need for a starting center.
Ayton wants to play in a “winning situation,” according to Charania, as his motive in asking for a buyout from the Portland Trail Blazers.
The only contenders left looking for a starting center are the Lakers and the Warriors.
While the Warriors can dwarf the Lakers’ offer in terms of money, they could present the best opportunity for the 7-foot center to revive his career.
Another wrinkle to this developing situation is that Ayton’s agent is Bill Duffy of WME Sports, who is also representing Lakers star Luka Doncic.
The Lakers only have a little more than $8 million of their $14.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception. They have already used a portion of it in signing 23-year-old wing Jake LaRavia as Finney-Smith’s replacement.
Ayton averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks while shooting 56.6% last season in Portland.
Trading for Suns’ Cheap Center?
Michael Scotto of Hoopshype reported that the Lakers were one of the several teams that showed interest in Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards.
“Richards has drawn trade interest from several teams, including the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, and Los Angeles Lakers, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote.
Richards is a “trade candidate to monitor,” according to Scotto, after the Suns landed his former Charlotte Hornets teammate Mark Williams and added No. 10 pick Khaman Maluach out of Duke in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The Lakers traded for Williams at the trade deadline but rescinded it after the former Duke star failed his physical. The Suns acquired Williams for the No. 29 pick (Liam McNeeley) and a 2029 first-round pick, which will be the least-favorable of picks from the Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Minnesota Timberwolves (top-five protected), according to ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania.
It was a package less than what the Lakers gave up (Dalton Knecht, unprotected 2031 first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap) in the rescinded Williams trade.
Richards, 27, has a $5 million non-guaranteed salary for the 2025-26 season. But Scotto added that the Suns are expected to guarantee his salary, which will give the team the ability to trade him.
The 7-foot center who has a 7-foot-4 wingspan averaged nearly a double-double per game last season. He posted 9.3 points on 59.1% shooting, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 22 minutes per game while splitting time with the Hornets and the Suns last season. The former Kentucky Wildcat started in 43 of 57 games.
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