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The Los Angeles Lakers are clearly considering upgrading the center spot as they scour the NBA trade market.
That isn’t the worst idea, as Anthony Davis obviously needs more help around (and behind) him on the interior.
If L.A. takes this route, though, it has to pick the right big man to add. So far, the franchise’s focus feels misguided.
As NBA insider Jake Fischer relayed at Bleacher Report, Washington Wizards center Jonas Valančiūnas “is definitely a name that you continue to hear being bandied about as a Lakers’ trade target.”
That name might interest certain portions of the fanbase. It’s also one that clearly holds some intrigue among the franchise’s decision-makers, as the bruising big man was linked to the Lakers back in free agency.
And, through a certain lens, it all makes sense. L.A. has failed to find a reliable 5 to mix in with Davis, and Valančiūnas is a proven producer at the position.
He churns out double-doubles with impressive regularity when filling a prominent role, and he obviously doesn’t fit with Washington’s long-term rebuilding plans. Even this season, he’s been rock-solid, averaging 11.9 points on 57.3 percent shooting and 7.9 rebounds in only 19.9 minutes a night.
He could legitimately help the Lakers with his post-scoring, rebounding and interior defense. He wouldn’t, however, move the needle enough to justify the cost.
Now, to be clear, said cost wouldn’t be staggering. Gabe Vincent and a first-round pick might get a deal done. In a vacuum, that’s fine value for a rotation-ready contributor.
What that vacuum doesn’t account for, though, is the Lakers’ relatively limited trade budget. They only have two future firsts to put into a trade and are only interested in cashing in both “if that leads to sustainable Lakers excellence,” in the words of general manager Rob Pelinka.
If L.A. sliced that trade offer in half just to add a rotational reserve—even if Valančiūnas started in certain matchups, it’s hard to picture him ever logging major minutes if the Lakers are healthy—that would shift the value away from fine and much closer to extravagant.
L.A. can’t sacrifice one of its best assets to overpay for a part-time player. Not when the trade market could offer up far superior alternatives.
If the Lakers decide they have to add a center, why not make a run at Robert Williams III or Brook Lopez instead? Williams is a wrecking ball on defense who can finish above the rim and even create some offense for others. Lopez offers the unicorn blend of long-range shooting and shot-blocking, perhaps the two skills most central for the ideal big to pair with Davis.
It’s also worth noting the Lakers can look outside this position group for upgrades. Sure, it’d be nice to have someone more reliable behind Davis than Jaxson Hayes or Christian Wood, but what are the chances that a backup big man sees significant minutes in the postseason? That’s much harder to envision than it would be for, say, a three-and-D wing or a point guard with either more defense than D’Angelo Russell or more offense than Vincent (or, ideally, both).
L.A. can—and should—consider trade targets who don’t play center. Should the Lakers wind up prioritizing a different position, they’ll want to make sure they have enough assets to scratch that itch, since two-way perimeter players carry a steeper price tag than backup bigs.
So, while the Lakers clearly have interest in Valančiūnas, that interest—with all things considered—feels misplaced. He isn’t the right center for them, and it isn’t clear that center is even the right position for this front office to address.
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