Confirmed deal : Lakers Predicted to Add $48 Million Celtics Former Fan Favorite as AD Insurance

 

 

But the team itself believes it needs more than that, according to one Lakers insider journalist. Jovan Buha, senior writer for The Athletic covering the Lakers reported this week that the Los Angeles front office has identified three major needs — but tops on that list is “a tough, physical, defensive-minded center.”

A player fitting that description would be intended to make sure the Lakers do not suffer a lapse in paint defense when Anthony Davis is on the bench.

 

The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves mired in a mediocre season after 26 games, standing at 14-12 in 10th place in the Western Conference, which would give the franchise that just four years ago won its 17th NBA champi

 

the fourth and final play-in spot. Lakers legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson said on Sirius XM Thursday that the team needs “one more player if you’re going to contend in the West,” specifically, a third scorer alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis who can pour in 20 points per game on a consistent basis.

 

The name often linked to the Lakers to fill that need has been Washington Wizards big man Jonas Valančiūnas, a 13-year veteran currently in the first year of a three-year, $30.3 million contract with the team that at 3-21 is proving to be the NBA’s worst by a considerable margin

 

But there is another defensive center — in fact one who in his healthiest season placed seventh in Defensive Player of the Year voting — who according to Yahoo! Sports Senior NBA Insider Jake Fischer “stands as perhaps the most coveted center on this season’s trade market… another player on the Lakers’ wish list of bigs and renowned for his defensive presence.”