The Lakers have a Luka Doncic problem. Not the kind you’d think — he’s their franchise now, and everyone knows it. The problem is he wants a center, and the center market is about to get complicated by a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster.
Los Angeles has been circling Jalen Duren and Walker Kessler, both restricted free agents. The Pistons and Jazz aren’t likely to let them walk cheap. But according to Lakers insider Anthony Irwin, the front office has its eyes on something bigger.
Irwin posted that the team’s focus this offseason is clear: find a big man, keep Luka happy, keep Rob Pelinka employed. He couldn’t say which center they’ll land, but he made it clear the search starts and ends at that position.
The Giannis Ripple Effect
Here’s where it gets sideways. Miami is reportedly pushing for Giannis, and Milwaukee is listening. The Heat would need to send out assets, and one name that keeps surfacing in trade chatter is Kel’el Ware. That’s a problem for the Lakers, because Ware is also on their radar.
Irwin acknowledged Ware’s talent and upside but pointed out there are legitimate questions about his consistency. The bigger issue is that Miami reportedly wants to include Ware in a package for Giannis, which could pull him off the market entirely.
But the Lakers might have a back door. According to Irwin, they’ve been in touch with Milwaukee about facilitating a multi-team deal using their cap space. That could mean taking on a bad contract for an extra pick or rerouting a player from Miami to Milwaukee in exchange for someone the Lakers actually want.
Isaiah Stewart Name Keeps Popping Up
One guy who keeps getting mentioned in connection with the Lakers is Isaiah Stewart. The Pistons big man could end up in a three-team scenario involving Detroit, Miami, and Milwaukee. Irwin said in a video that the Lakers have explored that possibility, and he personally likes the idea of Jaime Jaquez landing in L.A. as part of the shuffle.
Stewart isn’t a star, but he’s physical, can guard multiple positions, and wouldn’t cost a fortune. That might be the kind of move the Lakers can actually pull off without gutting their future.
Another name floating around is Robert Williams III. The problem there is that Portland still believes in him despite his injury history. The Blazers aren’t actively shopping Time Lord, so that path looks like a long shot right now.
The Lakers tried the cheap route last offseason, signing Deandre Ayton to a two-year, $16.6 million deal. It didn’t fix their interior issues, and now they’re staring at another summer where the center position could define their entire offseason — especially if the Giannis dominoes start falling.
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