Though he may not be kept out of mainstream discussions for much longer, Moussa Diabate may very well be the best-kept secret in the NBA. The Charlotte Hornets center has taken a colossal step forward during his fourth season, progressing on both ends of the floor and making a statement the Los Angeles Lakers can't ignore.
Though their similarities end at their position and association with the Hornets, Diabate can be everything the Lakers wanted Mark Williams to be when they nearly traded for him in 2025.
Diabate has turned in the best season of his NBA career thus far in 2025-26. He's currently averaging 8.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.7 offensive boards, 1.4 assists, 1.0 block, and 0.8 steals on 64.4 percent shooting from the field in 24.6 minutes per game.
In his most recent outing, Diabate showed how far his potential reaches by posting 18 points, 19 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block against All-Star big man Jaren Jackson Jr. and the Memphis Grizzlies.
🎙️ Moussa Diabate on his career-high in rebounds:
— r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) January 29, 2026
"Nothing really changed. Just go with the flow of the game, keep on being relentless... it could've been 25 rebounds, it could've been 5 rebounds. As long as I keep on crashing (the boards), good things are gonna happen." 🫎 pic.twitter.com/TTtZ8fPzmw
Compounded by the fact that Diabate's already strong averages thus translate to 12.3 points, 12.4 rebounds, 5.4 offensive boards, 2.0 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.1 steals per 36 minutes, there's ample reason for intrigue.
Moussa Diabate is everything the Lakers need from a center
Diabate's numbers admittedly fall short of Williams' 2024-25 season averages of 20.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, 4.1 offensive boards, 3.4 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 1.0 steal per 36 minutes. A look under the proverbial hood, however, reveals how Diabate offers the substance the Lakers need.
That's evident in how well-rounded his impact has become on defense, particularly when blowing up opposing teams' efforts at running the pick and roll.
Diabate currently ranks in the 83rd percentile in screener mobile defense and the 82nd percentile in screener rim defense, per Basketball Index. That alone makes him appealing to Los Angeles, which is allowing the most points per possession via the pick and roll in the NBA—from both the ball handler and the dive man.
Williams is a more than capable defender when he's on his game, but as the Deandre Ayton experiment has shown, the Lakers can't afford to bank on changes in consistency.
Moussa Diabate offers consistent effort on defense
Perhaps Williams would've become the player Los Angeles envisioned, but Diabate already brings nightly energy and engagement. It's exactly what separates him from the Lakers' previous trade target from Charlotte.
For perspective: Diabate is not only second on the Hornets in two-point field goals contested per 36 minutes, but first in three-point field goals contested, as well.
For a Lakers team in dire need of consistent effort on defense, that makes him a dream of a potential trade target. He'll crash the boards, defend with intensity, and help set the tone along the interior while still having untapped potential at 24 years of age.
Though it's unclear if the Hornets are willing to trade Diabate at this stage, the Lakers would be wise to call a familiar franchise and attempt to trade for their new defensive anchor.