The Los Angeles Lakers‘ first preseason game highlighted a major concern for the team: a lack of depth at the center position. With both Anthony Davis and Christian Wood out of the lineup, the Lakers were forced to run Rui Hachimura at center for significant stretches. This underscored a glaring weakness in their frontcourt, showing that without their big men available, the Lakers are severely lacking in size and interior presence.

The Center Dilemma

1. Rui Hachimura at Center: A Stopgap, Not a Solution

Rui Hachimura is a versatile forward, but playing him at the center position exposes several weaknesses. Hachimura lacks the size and defensive presence needed to protect the rim and rebound effectively against true centers. While his versatility allows the Lakers to go small in certain situations, it’s clear that asking him to play significant minutes as the team’s primary big is not a sustainable solution.

2. Injuries and Depth Concerns

The absence of Anthony Davis and newly acquired Christian Wood left the Lakers scrambling for options. Christian Koloko, another potential backup big, has not yet been cleared to play, which further depletes their frontcourt depth. Without any reliable bigs on the floor, the Lakers were vulnerable defensively, particularly in the paint. Opposing teams were able to exploit the lack of rim protection and dominate the rebounding battle.

3. Christian Koloko’s Unavailability Hurts the Lakers

Koloko’s absence is a significant blow to the Lakers’ depth. While he is still developing as a player, his size and athleticism could have been a useful asset during these early preseason games. However, with him still not cleared to play, the Lakers have had to rely on small-ball lineups, which left them at a disadvantage.

Why a Trade for a Center is Now a Must

The preseason game made it clear: the Lakers cannot rely solely on Anthony Davis and Christian Wood to handle the center responsibilities throughout the season. Both players have injury histories, and the team cannot afford to be short-handed when it comes to protecting the paint and controlling the boards.

A potential Lakers trade for a center is becoming more necessary by the day. Here’s why:

• Injury Insurance for AD and Wood: Davis and Wood are both talented bigs, but their injury concerns make it risky to rely on them for the bulk of the season. Adding a durable center would provide much-needed insurance and allow Davis to play his preferred power forward role more consistently.
• Rim Protection and Rebounding: A true center would give the Lakers a reliable presence inside, helping to protect the rim and secure rebounds—areas where they struggled in their first preseason game. This would also allow the team to better match up against bigger, more physical teams throughout the season.
• Versatility in Lineups: Having another legitimate center on the roster would allow JJ Redick more flexibility in his rotations. He could experiment with different lineups, including small-ball units with Davis and Hachimura, without sacrificing too much size and interior defense.

Potential Targets for the Lakers

The Lakers will likely need to explore both the trade market and free agency to find a suitable center. Some potential options could include:

• Free Agent Signing: Veterans like Dwight Howard or Hassan Whiteside are still available and could provide the Lakers with size, rebounding, and shot-blocking. Howard, in particular, is familiar with the Lakers’ system and could bring leadership along with his defensive s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 set.
• Trade Options: If the Lakers choose to go the trade route, they might look for a solid backup center on a team looking to shed salary or make roster adjustments. Players like Myles Turner have been linked to the Lakers in the past and could be considered if the right trade package is available.

What’s Next for the Lakers?

While the Lakers are experimenting with lineups in the preseason, their need for a true center has been made obvious. Running forwards like Hachimura or LeBron James at center may work in short bursts, but over the course of the season, it will wear them down and hurt the team’s overall performance. A move to address this issue, whether through free agency or a trade, seems inevitable if the Lakers want to maximize their championship chances.

Until then, the Lakers will need to tread carefully, hoping that Anthony Davis and Christian Wood stay healthy while keeping an eye on potential reinforcements. Lakers Nation knows that if they don’t address this need soon, it could become a major obstacle as the season progresses.