Lakers Weigh Trade Options to Bolster Center Position Ahead of Deadline

Los Angeles explores acquiring Walker Kessler, Jonas Valanciunas, or Nikola Vucevic to address size and depth concerns.

The Lakers are actively pursuing a center to complement Anthony Davis, following their recent trade for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.
Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz is a primary target, with proposed deals involving draft picks and players like Christian Wood or Gabe Vincent.
Kessler, 23, offers elite rim protection and rebounding, averaging a double-double and 2.7 blocks per game this season on a team-friendly contract.
Other potential targets include Jonas Valanciunas for his experience and floor-spacing ability, and Nikola Vucevic for his rebounding and perimeter scoring skills.
The Lakers aim to strengthen their playoff prospects by addressing size mismatches exposed in previous postseason runs, particularly against teams like the Denver Nuggets.