The Los Angeles Lakers are nearing a date that could alter the trajectory of the 2024-25 season. Come December 15, the floodgates will open and the Lakers will have a chance to trade for virtually any target they consider, including players who signed new contracts in free agency.
For as intriguing as that possibility is, there are three outside-the-box options at center who the Lakers should consider before making a final decision.
Los Angeles has been linked to a number of intriguing players in trade rumors, including Brook Lopez of the Milwaukee Bucks and Jonas Valanciunas of the Washington Wizards. The interest aligns with head coach JJ Redick saying that he believes the Lakers need to add a big, bruising center.
Both trades would push the Lakers forward and give them a better chance of competing and contending in 2024-25, but there are other players worth considering.
In some instances, there are veterans who can provide the strong interior presence the team needs. In others, there are up-and-comers whose versatility and intensity could fill multiple voids and thus provide Los Angeles with a boost in momentum in several areas of weakness.
Regardless of who the Lakers land on, what's become abundantly clear is that there are options aplenty on the trade front.
1. Steven Adams, Houston Rockets
If the Lakers are in the market for a physically imposing big who can battle for rebounds inside, then there's no better option than Steven Adams. A 6'11" and 265-pound powerhouse who has made a living out of manhandling opponents, Adams would be the ultimate interior stopgap.
Anthony Davis would be given significantly more freedom on both ends of the floor, as Adams helps anchor the interior and fills the rebounding void.
Adams is highly regarded as one of the best rebounders in the NBA. He boasts career averages of 11.0 rebounds and an absurd 4.9 offensive boards per 36 minutes. Those numbers properly reflect how the 31-year-old embraces physicality and creates second chances at virtual will.
Considering the Lakers are No. 24 in offensive rebounds, No. 22 in second-chance points, and No. 26 in second-chance points allowed, Adams appears to be a perfect fit.
The reason to believe Adams is a viable trade option is the simple fact that he's fallen out of favor in Houston. He's averaging just 11.2 minutes per game in 2024-25, and with an expiring $12.6 million contract, there's reason to believe the Rockets will be looking to find value before he enters free agency.
The Lakers could potentially get a deal done by offering Gabe Vincent and a minimum salary, which makes this an even more fascinating trade to consider.
2. Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons
Let's get the obvious out of the way: Yes, Isaiah Stewart and LeBron James infamously got into an altercation in 2021. As such, it's within the realm of possibility that neither James nor Stewart would feel terribly enthusiastic about the possibility of playing together.
If they're willing to put their past behind them, however, acquiring Stewart could give the Lakers the talent and physicality they need inside.
Stewart is a 6'8" and 250-pound big who makes up for his lack of elite height with a colossal 7'4.75" wingspan and an intriguing motor. He's more than willing to get physical on both ends of the floor, which makes him an ideal candidate to help address Los Angeles' rebounding woes.
With career averages of 10.5 rebounds and 3.4 offensive boards per 36 minutes, Stewart can provide the physical interior presence to provide the balance Davis has been desperately seeking.
Stewart is also a quality shot-blocker, posting a career average of 1.5 blocks per 36 minutes and a 2024-25 mark of 2.3. He also shot 38.3 percent from beyond the arc on 175 attempts in 2023-24, thus suggesting he can help Los Angeles improve upon its ranking of No. 27 in three-point field goals made.
For those questioning the viability of the trade: Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype reports that executives around the NBA believe Stewart could become available in trade talks in 2024-25.
3. Robert Williams III, Portland Trail Blazers
The obvious caveat here is that Robert Williams III has struggled to overcome injuries throughout his NBA career. Getting that out of the way early is essential to evaluating the potential value to be found in a trade for him.
When Williams is healthy, however, he's one of the best rim protectors the Lakers could possibly acquire—thus making him a candidate worth considering.
Williams missed 47 games due to injury in 2022-23 and 76 in 2023-24. It's the primary reason teams have been reluctant to acquire one of the best defensive bigs in the NBA, and could thus convince Los Angeles to keep its distance.
One simply can't help but acknowledge how perfectly Williams would fit in terms of what the Lakers are lacking and the areas in which he specializes.
Williams boasts career averages of 13.0 points, 12.1 rebounds, 4.5 offensive boards, 2.9 blocks, and 1.3 steals per 36 minutes. His rebounding and rim protection would give Davis significantly more flexibility on both ends of the floor, while his finishing around the rim would give Los Angeles a new lob target.
There are obvious flaws in the design of a trade for a player who has missed 138 games since 2022-23, but the upside is undeniable and worth considering at $12,428,571.