The Los Angeles Lakers have a huge hole in the middle to fill heading into the offseason. The current starting center, Jaxson Hayes, is set to become a free agent, and it’s unclear whether the Lakers are interested in retaining him.
The Lakers have already tipped their hand in wanting to acquire a center via trade after reaching an agreement at the trade deadline with the Charlotte Hornets for center Mark Williams. That deal was nullified after Williams failed his physical, so the Lakers still have the need for a viable starting center option.
There are a few intriguing options available in free agency, but it’s unclear who will be available in the Lakers’ projected price range. While it’s possible a veteran option like Brook Lopez or Clint Capela would sacrifice a big payday in order to compete for a ring next to LeBron James and Luka Doncic, the Lakers may be better off securing a center via trade instead of hoping for a veteran to take a massive discount.
The timing might line up perfectly for the Lakers to pull off a huge trade and land one of the more underrated two-way centers in the league in a major deal with the Toronto Raptors in this proposed trade:
Poeltl, 29, has put together one of the best seasons of his career this year for the rebuilding Raptors. Poeltl is averaging 14.5 points per game, 9.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 29.6 minutes per game this season, which are all career highs. Poeltl has long been regarded as a reliable rim protector and has scoring efficiency numbers similar to Charlotte’s Williams as a rollman and cutter. While Poeltl is older and may lack the long-term upside Williams offers, he’s more reliable in defensive rotations and would solidify the center position for the Lakers. In a conference where Nikola Jokic still roams, adding some true bulk in Poeltl and a capable pick-and-roll partner for Luka Doncic should be the top priority for the Lakers this offseason.
The Raptors have held onto Poeltl for a high ransom, but they may be more willing than ever to clear the decks for a younger center to take over. The Raptors have been linked to Duke big man Khaman Maluach as a potential draft pick, and Poeltl isn’t on the same timeline as the rest of the team’s young core. Hachimura could easily be re-flipped by the Raptors at some point to a contender, which could leave Toronto with a nice haul for moving off Poeltl, who has a player option worth $19.5 million for the 2026-27 season. Hachimura, meanwhile, is on an expiring contract for the 2025-26 season at $18.2 million.
Poeltl may not have the same name recognition as some of the league’s best centers, but he should be a priority trade target for the Lakers this offseason.
