The Los Angeles Lakers have been trying to strengthen their frontcourt, notably the middle place, for a while. They reportedly needed to signal middle Jonas Valanciunas as a free agent this summer time, solely to see him be a part of the Washington Wizards, arguably the worst workforce within the NBA, as a substitute.
They have been additionally excited by buying Wendell Carter Jr. from the Orlando Magic. Nonetheless, nothing materialized, and Carter as a substitute signed a contract extension keep in central Florida.
Whereas Los Angeles may nonetheless go after Valanciunas by way of commerce, there was an Japanese Convention middle it additionally had curiosity in touchdown this summer time, and he was somebody followers have been unfamiliar with perhaps not: Nick Richards of the workforce. Charlotte Frelons.
By way of Clutch Factors:
“The Lakers have expressed curiosity in a number of potential commerce targets over the summer time, league sources confirmed to ClutchPoints,” Brett Siegel wrote. “One of many gamers they expressed curiosity in was Nick Richards of the Charlotte Hornets.”
Richards, a seven-foot, 245-pound middle, was a 2020 second-round select of the College of Kentucky. After barely taking part in in his first two NBA seasons, he started to emerge within the 2022-23 marketing campaign. Final season, he averaged 9.7 factors, 8.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocked pictures in 26.3 minutes per recreation.
Though it looks as if the Lakers now not care about profitable championships, the fact might be extra difficult than that. They do not have many engaging and priceless commerce property, and the league’s new ultra-restrictive wage cap makes it much more tough to make trades that might enhance a workforce’s roster.
Whereas Lakers basic supervisor Rob Pelinka deserves blame for among the choices he made, he additionally deserves credit score for not getting sucked into trades that would not have improved the composition of the workforce and eliminating its restricted property on the identical time.
This text was initially printed on LeBron Wire: The shock Japanese Convention middle the Lakers tried to commerce for
