The Los Angeles Lakers were left with a sizable void at the center position after the league-altering trade that sent a package headlined by Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Dončić on Feb. 1, but general manager Rob Pelinka had a plan in place.
After acquiring Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets for Dalton Knecht, the hole was filled and the Lakers looked to be primed for championship contention.
That was until the latter Williams deal was rescinded following news of a failed physical, holding the budding star center back from joining the team.
With their options thin in the frontcourt, recent reports indicate that Pelinka may partially fill the Davis-sized hole at the center position by bringing in a former top-five draft selection from the buyout market.
“Alex Len will no longer be signing with the Pacers, per Dustin Dopirak,” Forbes’ Evan Sidery shared via Twitter/X on Monday night.
“Len and the Lakers hold mutual interest after their trade for Mark Williams fell through.”
As a 12-year veteran big, Len could still have plenty left in the tank as a potential member of the Lakers.
At 31 years old, the former No. 5 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft to the Phoenix Suns has averaged 6.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.9 blocks spanning 680 career contests.
Len is a lengthy and athletic big man that can provide solid defense and get out in transition.
The 7-foot, 250 pound former lottery pick even attempted to extend his range out to the three-point line, as evidenced by a career-best 36.3% accuracy from deep as a member of the Atlanta Hawks in 2018-19 and a lifetime 32.2% shooting clip from distance.
As a pick-and-roll partner with Dončić and LeBron James, Len could prove to be a serviceable presence in the paint if he’s picked up by Los Angeles.
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