The Los Angeles Lakers made a lot of moves this past offseason, perhaps going a little overboard by adding too many players. However, one position where they are currently a little thin is center.
LA has been looking into ways to add a third center to the roster, and the Lakers have been scouring the market for potential options.
“The Lakers are still monitoring the market for big men, team sources told The Athletic,” The Athletic’s Dan Woike reported. “They traded for Walker Kessler and signed Kevon Looney to play center, and Mamukelashvili can play the position, too. The team could address the position either by trade or signing, like with potentially adding Thybulle. The roster is currently at full capacity.”
Last week, LA tried to trade Dalton Knecht to the Milwaukee Bucks in a deal for center Jericho Sims.
“League sources say that the Lakers and Bucks have held exploratory trade discussions on a framework that would ship former first-round selection Dalton Knecht to Milwaukee (along with second-round draft capital) in exchange for big man Jericho Sims,” Fischer wrote on the Stein Line.“Yet it must be said that I’ve also heard some pessimism from sources briefed on those talks that such a trade will actually go through.”
The trade never materialized, and the Lakers ultimately waived Knecht. However, another veteran center is now available on the market. The Dallas Mavericks waived Dwight Powell on Monday morning.
“As multiple teams were lining up in hopes of signing Moussa Cissé, Dallas this morning informed Dwight Powell that he is being waived after nearly 12 years as a Maverick,” The Stein Line’s Marc Stein wrote.
Powell could be a solid addition for the Lakers, as he already has chemistry with Luka Doncic from their time together in Dallas. While Powell is getting older, he remains a lob threat, which is something LA could use in its frontcourt.
If the Lakers sign Powell, they would have to make another roster move by waiving a player. It is unclear who would be the odd man out, but if the team believes adding another center is important enough, it is a move that could very well happen.
