Lakers Still Searching for Backup Center, Athletic Guard to Round Out Team

As the NBA season moves forward into the new year, so do trade talks. Many teams have made smaller moves, but nobody has pulled the trigger on a big trade just yet. There are many franchises in the mix, with one of the frontrunners being the Los Angeles Lakers.

The high-value team always has a knack for bringing in big free agents, but they don’t often make moves throughout the year. However, while expectations were low due to their offseason inactivity, things have gone rather well for the top-heavy team.

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Los Angeles currently sits at five games above .500 (20-15) which is good enough to for fifth place in what has become an extremely tight Western Conference. Their winning ways have allowed them some room, but they still need some more pieces if they want to truly contend.

They’ve made one trade so far, which brought Dorian Finney-Smith over from the Nets. While he’s done well as a solid role player, he alone is not enough to elevate the entire team or give LeBron James and Anthony Davis the rest they need as the season goes on.

It’s going to take a little bit more.

The Suns Scorer

The Lakers have plenty of options on the open market. There are many strong players looking for new homes, and Los Angeles is a great destination. Finney-Smith is a start. Still, they may want a scoring guard who can replace D’Angelo Russell.

Several names have come up over the past two weeks since the trade, but a recent one is Bradley Beal. The Suns guard has always played the game at an extremely high level, and he’s continued that into this season by averaging 17.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.

Despite that, he’s not exactly working out in Phoenix. The team recently moved him to the bench, suggesting they may not utilize him as well as a team like the Lakers. Not only that, but Beal reportedly said he would waive his no-trade clause for a few teams. That includes LA.

He’s clearly willing to leave the Suns. While the Lakers front office have shown no interest in bringing in the guard, he would fill two holes with one move. Not only would he give them another strong scorer, but he could take a huge load off of James and Davis.

A Numbers Issue

The only issue with the above proposal is that the Lakers cannot trade for Beal on their own. Both teams are above the first apron of the salary cap, meaning they aren’t able to take back more than they send out.

Beal is currently sitting on a $50.2 million contract this season. He’s also due $53.6 million in the next one with a $57.1 million player option that he will almost certainly accept.

Looking at those numbers, the only way the Lakers would be able to bring him in a three-way deal. That’s a possibility, especially given what Los Angeles needs, but they might want to look elsewhere before trying to put that together.

More Bodies in the Paint

Something else the Lakers are in need of is a solid backup center. Davis has played incredibly well this season, and James is putting up his usual numbers. Even so, both are playing as bigs, which is naturally putting a lot of strain on them.

To help with that, the team has reportedly been asking around the league about potential backup centers who could fill in for both stars without commanding too high of a price. Los Angeles has picks and a few more players to deal, but they want to keep as many as possible.

That’s where Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas comes in. The big man brings size, toughness, and physicality to a team who’s currently in need of all three. He’s also incredibly imposing around the rim.

While the 32-year old isn’t as strong as he used to be, he’s still putting up 11.7 points and 8 rebounds a game. The Wizards are dead last and going nowhere, which is why they’d be willing to part with the skilled veteran.

Finding Something That Works

If Los Angeles doesn’t want to pay Washington’s undoubtedly high asking price for Valanciunas, they could go elsewhere. There are a few solid backup centers around the league, and more than one will move before the trade deadline.

“With the emergency of forward Max Christie in the starting lineup, the priority in Los Angeles is acquiring a center who can complement Anthony Davis or back him up,” wrote ESPN insider Bobby Marks. Who that might be is still up in the air, but the waters will get clearer as the trade deadline approaches.

Head coach JJ Redick has sworn that the team wants to focus on bringing in extra speed and athleticism before another big. That’s likely all smoke and mirrors. LA is winning now, but those winning ways will only last as long as Davis and James do. They aren’t going to make it the distance without some rest. A center or stat guard would help bring that reprieve.