Beat writer names the most realistic center candidate for the Lakers

USA Today

10-05-2025

Beat writer names the most realistic center candidate for the Lakers
It isn't really a matter of whether the Los Angeles Lakers will try to acquire a game-changing defensive-minded center this offseason. The question is which center or centers will they target in a potential trade?
While they don't have a lot of tradable assets, they do have a few that could be enough, and one thing to watch will be the number of defensive-minded starting-caliber centers that will be gettable via trade.
Jovan Buha, a Lakers beat writer for The Athletic, said during a recent episode of "Buha's Block" that Nic Claxton of the Brooklyn Nets seems to be the most realistic candidate for the team (at 23:34).
"As far as center targets or center candidates, I think a couple of names on the trade market interest me most, and that would be first - Nic Claxton," Buha said. "That is a guy that I think should be at the top of the Lakers list.
"That's probably, for me, among the best of the realistic targets, so I would have Nic Claxton number one. It is a big contract, it is going to be a bit tricky to match it. But the Lakers are right now are projected to be under the first apron, so they will have the ability to aggregate contracts in a potential trade, and if there is a way for the Lakers to get Nic Claxton, I that is a no-brainer for them."
Claxton recently turned 26 years of age, and as Buha pointed out, he's not only a good rim protector, but he can switch out onto the perimeter and effectively guard smaller players. He's also a lob threat and a good rim runner, which would make him a good fit next to Luka Doncic on offense.
Buha then mentioned another center who could be a great fit for the Lakers but may not be available to them.
"The other name that I like is going to be an interesting one, because I don't think he's going to necessarily be available to the Lakers, but Daniel Gafford from Dallas. And we could go back to that interaction that Luka and Gafford had at the end of Luka's return in Dallas, and there's some speculation as to what was said or what was implied with that interaction."
Gafford obviously has some chemistry with Doncic after the two played together on the Dallas Mavericks, and he is another player who is a strong rim-protector, rim-runner and lob threat. Gafford, who is also 26 years of age, would also presumably cost less trade capital, since he will only make just under $14.4 million next season.
However, given how incensed Mavericks fans still are about general manager Nico Harrison sending Doncic to L.A. for a low price, it remains to be seen whether Harrison would be willing to link up again with Lakers executive Rob Pelinka on another trade that would have sizable implications.