After the Los Angeles Lakers traded for Luka Dončić, there was one glaring issue that many fans and experts noticed: the lack of a true center or big man on the roster.
The issue took root when the same trade that brought Dončić to the team also sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks. The absence of a big man was highlighted when Rudy Gobert had the game of his career to close out the series for Minnesota against the Lakers. Many fans wonder whether the Lakers will be able to address this issue in the offseason.
Lakers’ Rob Pelinka Speaks About Acquiring a Center in the Offseason
The Lakers attempted to acquire Mark Williams at the trade deadline, but that trade was rescinded due to Williams failing a physical. This left the Lakers without a real center to turn to. They did have Alex Len, but Len was ineffective and didn’t fit well with the team’s scheme.
Now, with the offseason here, the goal seems simple: find a center to complement Dončić and James for what could be their last season together. To his credit, following their elimination, general manager Rob Pelinka acknowledged the team’s holes and spoke about finding a big man to help improve the roster for next season.
Pelinka then added how excited he is to build a roster around Luka Doncic moving forward, while acknowledging that after the trade deadline, it was a bit like trying to build an airplane in the sky.
"When you make a huge trade at the deadline where you trade your starting center…
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter)
“When you make a huge trade at the deadline where you trade your starting center for a point guard, of course, that will create significant issues with the roster,” Pelinka said. “We saw some of those play out. One of our primary goals is going to be to add size to our frontcourt at the center position.”
While a few potential free agents could help the Lakers and their frontcourt, the biggest question mark will be what James does heading into next season. The Lakers don’t seem like they’ll go into rebuilding mode, but restructuring around Dončić and preparing for life after James could be the next step.
Will LeBron James Retire Next Season?
James has been non-committal about his future, but there’s always a chance he decides to walk away after one more year. Entering year 23 in the league, could the man who has donned that number for much of his career leave the game after the upcoming season?
While James is one of the most accomplished athletes in sports history, one of his goals for the latter part of his career was to play with his son, Bronny James. The father-son duo spent this entire season as teammates, so with that goal completed, one could wonder, what else is there for the King to accomplish?
While he has not had championship success since winning the championship in 2020, he’s continued to break records and build a resume that many fans regard as the best ever. Is it time for James to walk away from the game he’s given so much to? Only he can answer that.
