Lakers could trade for a Defensive Player of the Year candidate worth $100 million

Despite getting off to a very good start on the shoulders of Anthony Davis, recent trade rumors all point to the Los Angeles Lakers eager to add a reliable center to the roster to strengthen the frontcourt and allow Davis to spend time as an attacker. The Lakers have been linked to Walker Kessler all season, but recent reports suggest Utah Jazz general manager Danny Ainge could make a deal.

Despite fairly obvious reasons not to, the Lakers are looking for a center. However, they could set their sights much higher than Walker Kessler.

As the Brooklyn Nets push for the best possible draft pick in 2025, many of their players have been placed on the trade market. Ben Simmons, Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith are among the more popular names, but the Lakers are said to be more interested in Nic Claxton, the shot-blocking and rebounding center who is arguably Brooklyn’s best player.

To pry him away from the Nets, the Lakers would have to match the salary by offering D’Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt or Gabe Vincent. Los Angeles should also offer the rebuilding Nets some draft capital, likely the Los Angeles Clippers’ 2025 second-round pick and a distant, protected first-round pick.

The 25-year-old Claxton averaged 12.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks over the past three seasons. In 2022-2023, he averaged 2.5 blocks and received several votes for Defensive Player of the Year.

In Los Angeles, he would likely start as a traditional center while Davis roamed the field, or be the first man off the bench. Either way, he would provide valuable cover in Hollywood.

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