The Los Angeles Lakers are in desperate need of a frontcourt star, especially after Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert exposed them in Game 5.
There should still be no regrets about dealing Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic, but to compete in the coming years, the Lakers’ front office will need to address this issue in the offseason.
Social media analyst Jack Travers predicts Los Angeles to do so by trading for ex-Mavericks center and NBA champion Kristaps Porzingis. The video discussing the proposal has gathered more than 800,000 views, and few in the comments agree with the idea.
“There is a trade for the Lakers that’s so obvious I’ll be shocked if it doesn’t happen,” Travers began. “We all know L.A. needs a center. Ever since AD got shipped off to Dallas, it’s been the biggest hole on their roster. Sure, you can throw out names like Brook Lopez or maybe even Mark Williams again, but none of them make nearly as much sense as Kristaps Porzingis.
The responses picked apart this scenario, pointing out a multitude of reasons it wouldn’t work. Firstly, Porzingis is not the most reliable center, appearing in just 42 games last season. The Celtics would also seemingly prefer to part ways with veteran guard Jrue Holiday before the former Mavs big man.
“Like it or not, the Celtics have a problem. They’re staring down a $500 million payroll next season most expensive roster in NBA history. They have to make cuts, and Porzingis is one of their biggest contracts, so if the Lakers pick up the phone and offer Austin Reaves and some picks, Boston has to think about it,” Travers concluded.
This piece of the suggestion raises another major question, which is why would Boston want Reaves? With a backcourt highlighted by Holiday, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard, it doesn’t make sense to add yet another star in the backcourt.
Chasing a much less costly and more reliable center seems like the premier option for the Lakers this offseason
