The Los Angeles Lakers had a busy offseason as Rob Pelinka had a plan to fill out this roster with players that fit around the skill set of his superstar Luka Doncic. This offseason was nearly perfect for the Lakers, but if there was one area they kind of missed the mark on, it was the backup center position.
Walker Kessler can be an elite starter, Kevon Looney behind him is so-so. While I was scanning the trade machine for potential centers LA could acquire to put a bow on their offseason, one player stood out: Jalen Smith of the Chicago Bulls.
Smith was the 10th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and hasn’t turned into the high-level rim-protecting floor spacer many thought he could become. However, he’s a solid rotational big who plays with a charged-up motor and could be a stronger backup five option for LA.
Jalen Smith is a perfectly gettable backup center upgrade
With the Bulls in a rebuild after a new front office came in this summer and drafted Caleb Wilson in this past summer's draft, Smith’s expiring contract could be an asset for them. Considering they already have Nic Claxton and Zach Collins, they don’t necessarily need Smith.
They could use him to get younger and add draft capital. The Lakers could make a rather compelling offer that includes Dalton Knecht, Jaden Hardy, and a second-round pick.
Knecht could offer an upside swing for Chicago. With him under team control this season and the next, he’s another cheap young piece who can fit their timeline and add much-needed floor spacing. Hardy, like he is for the Lakers, is whatever for the Bulls. He would end up getting waived ahead of the season.
Now to the part we actually care about: the Lakers' side of this trade.
In 53 games last season, Smith averaged 10.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 37.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Smith would add a layer to LA’s offense that we haven’t really seen at all in the JJ Redick and Luka Doncic era, which is a floor-spacing five. Smith is a quality screen setter who can help leave defenses even more perplexed when running the two-man game with Luka because he can finish at the rim or pop out for a triple.
He’d also offer a nice change of pace from Kessler as a starter. While we heard that Redick and Kessler have talked about him spacing the floor, Smith is already a legit stretch big.
Although he is undersized, at only 6-foot-8, when you have a giant like Kessler starting, it matters less. Smith also makes up for the lack of size with hustle and his ability to protect the rim.
Beyond the basketball reasons to like this move, it would also help the Lakers' roster crunch, with LA carrying 16 players. On top of that, this deal would also save the Lakers a bit of cash in the short-term and potentially the long term if Smith was only a rental.
If Pelinka wants to put the finishing touches on an elite offseason, calling up Bryson Graham in Chicago and stealing Smith could do just that.
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