The Los Angeles Lakers have a desperate need at center. They failed to fill it on the trade market around the NBA Draft, and fans were hoping to see a big splash in free agency to land a starter. However, within two hours of the official start of free agency, GM Rob Pelinka managed to miss out on two of LA's top center targets.
Lakers Immediately Lose Out on 2 Top Free Agent Centers
First, it was Clint Capela, who signed a three-year, $21.5 million deal with the Houston Rockets. Rumored to be near the top of the Lakers' wishlist, Capela instead chose to be the third center in Houston behind Alperen Şengün and Steven Adams.
Once the perfect lob threat and pick-and-roll partner for Luka Dončić was off the table, Lakers fans thought the team would turn their attention to Brook Lopez, another free agent reported to be high on LA's shortlist. Lopez could give the Lakers a rim protector and a three-point shooter at the center position, a unique combination in the NBA. Instead, the veteran big man signed with the rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers, on a two-year, $18 million deal.
With Dorian Finney-Smith's unexpected departure to kick off free agency, this has been a bad couple of hours for the Lakers. The frontcourt options are dwindling, and the Lakers may have no choice but to sign Deandre Ayton to have any shot of keeping Dončić and LeBron James happy.
Signing Ayton will likely not be enough, either. The Lakers need a reliable backup center behind Ayton as well. Pelinka may have to turn to the trade market to find that big man after missing out on some of the better options in free agency.