The Los Angeles Lakers have clear center targets in the 2026 free agency market
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It was clear in the 2025-26 season that the Los Angeles Lakers needed a center. They were working with Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes, who are not the worst centers in the league. However, they were not the most productive ones for the Lakers.
With guards like Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, there needs to be a better group helping them in the frontcourt. They have some superb forwards like LeBron James and Rui Hachimura, but the center options were not the best.
The Lakers already have plans for their center targets in free agency
The Lakers could be a much better team if they have a more reliable center. That is why they are in the market looking for some of the best players who could fit in their system. Ayton and Hayes are decent, but the two targets are much better for the Lakers' system.
Since they are relying on Doncic setting up centers for lobs, the Portland Trail Blazers' Robert Williams III and Mitchell Robinson of the most recent NBA champion, the New York Knicks, are seen as the best candidates.
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They are both excellent players who would be superb alongside Doncic. They are also superb defenders, so they will fit what JJ Redick has planned with his system.
"The Lakers have been linked to all sorts of veteran big men in the forthcoming free agent market as well. They could emerge as a suitor for the Knicks' Mitchell Robinson and the Trail Blazers' Robert Williams III, although sources say both players are very open to remaining in their incumbent roles with the Knicks and Blazers," Jake Fischer revealed on a recent report on The Stein Line.
While they might be staying with their teams, it goes to show that the Lakers are hunting for the right big man to put alongside Luka and the rest of the team. As long as they can keep up with a better center, they will be a dangerous team once again.
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