It’s the worst-kept secret in the world that the Los Angeles Lakers need a big man…and fast.
After being outclassed by the Minnesota Timberwolves in just five games in the first-round of the Western Conference playoffs, the Lakers lack of a true starting-caliber center was horribly exposed when Rudy Gobert scored 27 points and collected 24 rebounds in the series-clinching Game 5.
According to Bleacher Report’s Joseph Zucker, the Lakers aren’t going to waste anytime on securing a big man and plan on going all-in on acquiring a starting center, an issue that reared it’s ugly head during the club’s first-round playoff exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Let’s see what the Lakers could be looking at in terms of a deal, when it comes to retaining their true valuable assets while also snagging a big man.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Nikola Vucevic
Chicago Bulls Receive: Dalton Knecht, Dorian Finney-Smith, 2031 First-Round Pick (unprotected)
In the proposed deal, the Lakers would immediately solve two problems, which both happen to coincide with one another. J.J. Reddick would have himself a true starting-caliber center and would also allow Doncic and James much more room to work as Vucevic shot 40.2% from three, this past season.
For the Bulls, they weren’t re-signing Vucevic after this season anyway and in this deal, they’d acquire a quality, young, role player in Knecht in addition to a potentially valuable unprotected first-round pick from a Lakers team that may very well not have either James or Doncic by the time it rolls around. Finney-Smith provides some cap relief, next off-season when his $15.3 million will come off the books.
