Under-The-Radar Center Who Can Make Lakers Dominant In 2025-26

At this point, the Los Angeles Lakers don’t need another superstar. They need a fit at center. With LeBron James defying time, Luka Doncic holding down the fort as the face of the franchise, and Austin Reaves forming into a true star, the Lakers are missing one critical piece: a reliable, under-the-radar center who can anchor the paint. 

Throughout the 2024–25 season, the Lakers have battled inconsistency in their frontcourt rotation because only Jaxson Hayes, Alex Len, and Maxi Kleber can be somewhat relied on to compete at center. No doubt, the Lakers need a capable center who can run, defend, and not require touches to stay motivated to truly create a superteam. 

If Rob Pelinka can identify the right center this offseason, not a headline-grabber, but a glue guy who plugs holes and does the dirty work, this team could quietly become a juggernaut. We have a particular player in mind: Clint Capela.

Proposed Trade Details

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Clint Capela (Sign-and-Trade)

Atlanta Hawks Receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, Maxi Kleber, 2031 Second-Round Pick (LAC)

Clint Capela hits free agency this summer as his current $22,265,280 salary expires, and the Atlanta Hawks aren’t exactly in buying mode right now. Instead, they will look for young players and picks, and the Lakers could give them a deal that could net them assets without having to lose him for nothing. Let’s dive into how this could play out.

Lakers Engage In A Strong Sign-And-Trade Scenario

The Lakers have been desperate for a real center all season, someone who can anchor the paint, defend the rim, and allow the stars to do their thing offensively. In Clint Capela, they’d finally get that piece. 

The 30-year-old veteran remains one of the league’s most consistent rebounders and rim protectors, averaging 8.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game in only 21.4 minutes per game this season. His pick-and-roll synergy with guards and his lob-finishing threat would give the Lakers a new vertical dimension they’ve lacked since JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard’s 2020 run.

Capela’s durability and consistency are huge here. He doesn’t need touches, doesn’t chase stats, and thrives doing the dirty work, everything LeBron and Luka need next to them. More importantly, he’s one of the few available centers who can actually be trusted against elite playoff competition, stemming back to his days with Houston.

The sign-and-trade angle is smart cap management by Rob Pelinka. The Lakers can’t just sign Capela outright, but turning a package of Jarred Vanderbilt (a solid defensive piece who’s struggled to stay healthy this season) and Maxi Kleber (a capable stretch big buried on the bench most of 2024–25) into a high-level starting center is tremendous value. 

Hawks Get Back Something In Return For A Nearly Guaranteed Departure

Atlanta is headed toward a reset, not a full teardown, but clearly a shift. With Trae Young’s name in trade rumors and everyone not named Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels potentially on the block, Capela is an obvious candidate to be moved. 

He’s served his purpose in Atlanta, but with Onyeka Okongwu (13.4 PPG, 8.9 RPG) ready to take the starting center role full-time, Capela’s return just doesn’t align with the Hawks’ future timeline. Rather than let him walk in free agency for nothing, pulling off a sign-and-trade gets them some value and flexibility.

Jarred Vanderbilt, if healthy, is an intriguing fit with Quin Snyder’s defensive philosophy. His ability to guard multiple positions and play with energy could give the Hawks a versatile bench or rotation option, especially alongside younger wings like Jalen Johnson. 

Vanderbilt only appeared in 36 games this season due to a foot injury, but when active, he’s a chaos-inducing defender who could thrive in a smaller role. Maxi Kleber brings shooting and spacing as a stretch five, a low-cost veteran who can help in spots while mentoring the younger bigs on the roster.

The biggest win for Atlanta here is flexibility. Capela’s $20M+ salary coming off the books is big, but acquiring two frontcourt pieces on manageable deals and a future pick keeps the door open to other trades or retooling efforts. A positive is always better than nothing, so the Hawks gain something in this deal.

A Superteam Could Be Formed In The Western Conference

This trade doesn’t bring in a flashy name like Kyrie Irving or Kevin Durant, but make no mistake, this could be the move that turns the Lakers into the West’s most balanced roster. 

With LeBron still elite (averaging 23.8 PPG, 8.0 APG this season) and Doncic continuing to dominate as a top-five player in the world (26.5 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 2.5 BPG), adding a piece who doesn’t need the ball but impacts every possession is exactly what this team needed. Capela stabilizes the front line and allows L.A. to stay big against teams like OKC, Denver, Minnesota, and Houston.

A potential starting lineup of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Clint Capela gives the Lakers shooting, playmaking, size, and defensive versatility. Off the bench, they still have Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent, and Dalton Knecht. 

This isn’t just a collection of talent, it’s a well-balanced team with clearly defined roles. That’s something they haven’t truly had since the 2020 title squad. Overall, one last run with LeBron, optimized for postseason matchups and built with continuity in mind. It’s not flashy, but it’s exactly what wins championships in today’s NBA.