If the latest rumor about the Los Angeles Lakers’ pursuit of an upgrade at center proves true, then it’s hard to avoid how focused Rob Pelinka is on youth, upside, and team-friendly finances. It’s also difficult to overlook how steady the theme appears to be with his in-season activity.
If fans are wondering what the Lakers are going to be looking for this summer, it’s safe to assume their rumored Onyeka Okongwu interest revealed their hand.
Los Angeles made an attempt to improve at center near the 2025 NBA trade deadline with a failed trade for Mark Williams. The initial deal appears to have been less of a shocking development than anticipated, as the Lakers seem to have their eye on up-and-coming players on team-friendly deals.
During a recent appearance on Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre, ESPN insider Dave McMenamin revealed that the Lakers called about Okongwu ahead of the 2025 NBA trade deadline.
“I can’t tell you all the names on that list but I actually assume he was one of the names on that list that Rob Pelinka presented to Luka [Doncic] because I do know that the Lakers made a call to the Hawks around the trade deadline about Okongwu.
The deal may not have been completed, but it’s become perfectly clear that the Lakers are looking for a young interior anchor rather than a more proven veteran.
Pelinka has made a habit out of targeting players whose best days are ahead of them. It’s been a remarkably fruitful strategy, as the likes of Alex Caruso, Rui Hachimura, and Austin Reaves have easily justified, if not thoroughly outplayed, their respective salaries.
The hope in Los Angeles appears to be that the center it acquires this summer will be another player who performs well above their market value at the time of acquisition or re-signing.
Okongwu, who was born and raised in Los Angeles and attended USC, certainly fits the bill as a 24-year-old big man who has three seasons and a reasonable $47.98 million remaining on his contract. He’s also one of the most promising young interior players in the NBA, possessing two-way value and a well-rounded skill set.
That translated to averages of 13.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.0 offensive boards, 2.3 assists, 0.9 blocks, 0.9 steals, and 0.6 three-point field goals made in just 27.9 minutes per game in 2024-25.
For perspective, those numbers equate to 17.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.5 offensive boards, 2.9 assists, 1.2 blocks, 1.2 steals, and 0.8 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes. He managed those averages with a relatively efficient slash line of .567/.324/.759.
Beyond the numbers, Okongwu is an athletic lob threat who can knock down corner threes, defend at a high level, create second chances, and even functionally generate offense for his teammates.
Untapped potential is still the name of the game with Okongwu, but there’s a case to be made that Luka Doncic and LeBron James are perfectly equipped to bring the best out of him. Doncic is an elite pick and roll playmaker, and James has won championships with strong interior presences.
It’s unclear if Los Angeles will specifically revisit its Okongwu interest this summer, but it’s evident that youth, contract, and upside are all important factors to Pelinka in the pursuit of a center.
