With the Los Angeles Lakers rescinding the Mark Williams trade due to his failed physical, the team now finds itself back in the market for a center. Lakers insider Jovan Buha recently discussed potential options on the buyout and free-agent market, naming Daniel Theis, Mo Bamba, and Kelly Olynyk as the top candidates.
“Looking at the center free agent and buyout market, I think Daniel Theis is the best option. OKC waived him after acquiring him via trade. Still, he’s like a 6-8 center. Like, I think Daniel Theis from a few years ago would have—I would have really liked that player.”
“I think now that he’s into—I believe he’s in his early 30s now, if not like close to mid-30s—he’s 32.”
“But—but he’s—he’s 6-8, you know, and—and I—I just—I don’t know. I—I think, like, he’s fine as an option. He could be a bit of a lob threat. I think Luka can have some fun—like, Luka just likes lob threat big men. So, in that sense, I think he—he could be fine.”
“He is a bit of a mobile big, like he’s got some defensive versatility. I’ve always liked Theis’ game. I just think 28-year-old Theis was a—a sign—was a noticeably better player than 32-year-old Daniel Theis. Like, I think right now he’s—I mean, there’s a reason he’s kind of like a fringe NBA player.”
“Then it’s like Mo Bamba, who—like, the Clippers picked Drew Eubanks over Mo Bamba to show you where Mo Bamba is currently at. Like, I just don’t—Lakers already had Mo Bamba. It was relatively disappointing. I don’t think he’s like a rotation backup in—in a serious situation.”
“And then also, you know, there’s been some, uh, speculation as to like—could Kelly Olynyk, you know, uh, get bought out, uh, in New Orleans? And then maybe he becomes the option and gives the Lakers at least like a stretch five, uh, decent rebounder—not like a good rebounder and not a good defender.”
“I think in a team scheme, he could be fine, has some mobility, but not a rim protector—not really like a physical guy that’s going to bang with guys in the post.”
“So, I mean, that’s always been my concern. I know a lot of people like Kelly Olynyk, but I just think he’s a—a clear minus defender that, like, you know, in my opinion, the most valuable thing a big man can do is be a good defender—unless you’re like an all-world scorer.”
“And that’s—that’s why I think Jaxson Hayes falls into like a weird thing because he’s obviously been really good offensively. He’s been rebounding the ball better. He’s even been blocking some shots. But he’s not even a neutral defender, in my opinion.”
“And then, you know, looking at this market, it’s just pretty underwhelming. So, there’s still going to be some guys that shake loose in terms of teams waiving guys.”
1. Daniel Theis
Buha identified Daniel Theis as the best available option. The 32-year-old big man was waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder after being traded from New Orleans, and while he’s not the player he was a few years ago, he still brings some valuable traits.
Theis averaged 4.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 47.3% shooting from the field this season before being waived. While he’s undersized at 6’8”, he still has the experience of playing in big playoff games with the Boston Celtics. But, Buha admitted that the current version of Theis isn’t as impactful as he was a few years ago and that he’s more of a fringe NBA player at this point.
Would he be an upgrade over Jaxson Hayes? Possibly, but not by much.
2. Mo Bamba
Another name Buha mentioned was Mo Bamba, who was waived by the Utah Jazz after being acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers. Bamba has always been intriguing due to his length and shot-blocking ability, but his lack of consistency has made him a journeyman in the NBA.
Bamba is averaging 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 46.6% from the field, which is far from an impactful stat line. Despite his 7’0″ frame and shot-blocking potential, he hasn’t developed into the reliable rim protector the Lakers need.
The Lakers previously had Bamba in 2023 but moved on from him, so it’s unlikely they would see him as a real solution to their big-man issues.
3. Kelly Olynyk
The most intriguing name Buha mentioned was Kelly Olynyk, who was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans from the Toronto Raptors in the Brandon Ingram deal. However, there is speculation that he could be bought out, making him a potential target for the Lakers.
Olynyk brings a unique skill set as a stretch five, shooting 44.2% from three this season while averaging 7.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.
While Olynyk wouldn’t provide much rim protection, his ability to space the floor could be useful in lineups with Luka Doncic and LeBron James, allowing them to operate with more driving lanes. However, Buha cautioned that he’s a defensive liability, which could limit his effectiveness against bigger lineups in the Western Conference.
Beyond these three, the Lakers have a few internal options. Jaxson Hayes, who is averaging 5.7 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 block per game, has been effective since returning from injury but remains a below-average defender. Meanwhile, Christian Wood, who has yet to play this season, could be an option if he returns. However, his best years—where he averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds—are long gone.
The Lakers will continue to monitor the buyout market, as more players could become available in the coming weeks. However, none of the current options provide the impact that Mark Williams would have had he passed his physical.
For now, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka will have to decide whether one of these three options is worth pursuing or if they should wait for a better opportunity.
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