If there was one image that summed up the Los Angeles Lakers’ painful first-round exit in the 2025 Playoffs, it was Rudy Gobert flexing after yet another offensive rebound and putback. Gobert, a player known more for defense than scoring, dropped 27 points and grabbed 24 boards in Minnesota’s Game 5 closeout win over L.A., sending LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and the Lakers home embarrassingly.
For a franchise built on star power, that kind of frontcourt beatdown was a glaring sign: the Lakers need more size and toughness in the middle if they’re serious about chasing a title in 2025-26.
The LeBron-Luka partnership still has championship potential, but their supporting cast must evolve, starting at center. The Lakers simply didn’t have enough muscle, rim protection, or rebounding to survive the West’s growing big-man gauntlet.
If Rob Pelinka wants to maximize LeBron’s final title window and Luka’s peak, finding a proven center this summer is mandatory.
The good news? The market offers options. Here are 8 proven centers the Lakers could target in the 2025 offseason to finally give LeBron and Luka the frontcourt help they desperately need.
1. Jaren Jackson Jr.
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Jaren Jackson Jr.
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, 2031 First-Round Pick, 2026 First-Round Pick Swap
Adding Jaren Jackson Jr. would bring a massive defensive jolt to L.A.’s front line. Despite Memphis’s rough season, getting swept in Round 1 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jackson still flashed his trademark rim protection (1.5 blocks per game) and stretched the floor with 22.2 points per night on respectable 37.5% shooting from three.
His mobility and switchability on defense make him an ideal anchor next to LeBron and Luka, especially after watching Rudy Gobert overpower the Lakers in the first round. While JJJ has had trouble staying consistent offensively, playing off two superstars could simplify his role and help him return to the All-Star form he showed in 2023.
For Memphis, recouping Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht gives them two rotation-ready wings, plus draft assets to retool around Desmond Bane. From the Lakers’ standpoint, Jackson’s age (25) and unique two-way skillset fit the bill of a title-hunting team trying to win now without sacrificing long-term stability.
2. Myles Turner
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Myles Turner (Sign-and-Trade)
Indiana Pacers Receive: Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, 2031 First-Round Pick
Myles Turner remains one of the NBA’s most productive centers, and 2024-25 was no different: 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting a crisp 39.6% from deep. His ability to protect the rim and stretch the floor makes him tailor-made to fit between LeBron and Luka.
Turner also enters free agency, and if Indiana pivots toward building around their young core after their playoff success, a sign-and-trade makes sense for both sides. His playoff experience and low-maintenance offensive game would be a seamless upgrade over the Lakers’ current center rotation.
From L.A.’s side, packaging Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht is a palatable price to finally solve their center woes. Turner is big enough to handle the Goberts and Jokics of the world but skilled enough to avoid clogging the paint for Luka and LeBron’s drives.
This would give JJ Redick the flexibility to go big without sacrificing spacing, exactly what they lacked against Minnesota.
3. Nic Claxton
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Nic Claxton
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, 2031 First-Round Pick
Nic Claxton just wrapped up a stellar season in Brooklyn, averaging 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game while finishing top five in field goal percentage at 56.3%. At just 26, he offers athleticism and defensive upside that the Lakers sorely missed in their first-round flameout.
Claxton thrives as a vertical lob threat, a perfect complement to Luka’s passing wizardry, while also being one of the league’s switchiest big men on defense. If Brooklyn opts to pivot toward a rebuild, moving Claxton while his value is sky-high makes sense.
For the Lakers, giving up Hachimura and Gabe Vincent plus a first-rounder is a solid value play. Claxton would allow L.A. to go back to its 2020 formula of surrounding LeBron with athletic, defensive-minded bigs while keeping Luka’s offensive lanes clear. This is the kind of modern center upgrade that could swing postseason matchups.
4. 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 isn’t the All-NBA-level big man he was a few years ago, but he remains a dependable defensive presence. In 2024-25, he averaged 8.9 points and 8.5 rebounds, continuing his streak of elite offensive rebounding (3.2 per game).
After being phased into more of a veteran role in Atlanta behind Onyeka Okongwu, Capela becomes a realistic veteran target for the Lakers. His playoff toughness and rebounding would have been invaluable against Minnesota’s physical front line.
L.A. could get him at a bargain here by sending out Jarred Vanderbilt and Maxi Kleber. While Capela doesn’t stretch the floor, his experience and rim-running ability give the Lakers a functional big who can bang with elite centers for 20-25 minutes a night. It’s a cheaper solution, but would instantly boost their rebounding and interior defense.
5. Walker Kessler
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Walker Kessler
Utah Jazz Receive: Dalton Knecht, 2031 First-Round Pick, 2026 First-Round Pick Swap
Walker Kessler improved upon his breakout rookie year last season and managed 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game in 2024-25. At just 23, he represents a rare blend of upside and proven shot-blocking prowess.
Utah might be willing to listen, given they’re reportedly prioritizing offensive star power this offseason. Kessler’s rim protection and vertical spacing fit perfectly next to LeBron and Luka’s drive-and-kick offense.
For the Lakers, flipping Dalton Knecht and a future pick is a strong but sensible move. Kessler gives them youth and energy in the paint while maintaining their timeline to win now without going all-in on an aging vet. This is the kind of savvy pivot L.A. needs after being battered on the boards by Gobert.
6. Onyeka Okongwu
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Onyeka Okongwu
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Rui Hachimura, 2031 First-Round Pick (LAL)
Okongwu has quietly emerged as one of the league’s best young bigs, averaging 13.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks this season while hitting 56.7% from the field. Atlanta’s frontcourt logjam makes him an intriguing trade target, especially with Capela still on the roster. Okongwu’s agility and switchability make him a more modern fit for today’s playoff battles, where traditional centers get played off the floor.
For the Lakers, acquiring Okongwu would inject youth and athleticism into their aging core while keeping LeBron and Luka’s title window wide open. Sacrificing Rui and a pick is steep but worth it to secure a center who can guard in space, finish lobs, and bring energy on both ends. It’s a long-term and immediate win.
7. Jonas Valanciunas
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Jonas Valanciunas
Sacramento Kings Receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, 2031 First-Round Pick
Valanciunas remains an old-school bruiser, finishing the year with 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting 55.0% from the field. His limitations on defense are well-known, but in the right setting, like L.A., where LeBron and Luka control the offense, he can provide a stable low-post option and elite rebounding.
The Kings, after missing the playoffs not long after trading De’Aaron Fox, may look to get younger and more mobile, making Valanciunas expendable. For the Lakers, bringing in Jonas would give them the size they lacked in their first-round loss while keeping the offense humming.
Sending out Jarred Vanderbilt and a future pick is a manageable price for a veteran center who can eat minutes and keep them competitive on the glass.
8. Robert Williams III
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Robert Williams III
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, Shake Milton, 2031 First-Round Pick
When healthy, Robert Williams III is a game-changer. Though he missed most of 2024-25 with more injuries (20 appearances), his career averages of 1.7 blocks, elite rim protection, and vertical spacing still make him an intriguing buy-low candidate. Portland, deep in their rebuild, might be willing to move him for assets.
The Lakers can gamble on Williams’ upside by offering Vanderbilt and Shake Milton, plus a pick. If he returns to form, Williams gives L.A. the defensive anchor they desperately need, capable of matching up with elite bigs while covering ground on switches. It’s risky, but the potential reward is immense.
