The Los Angeles Lakers have finally addressed the void at center by signing former No. 1 overall selection Deandre Ayton. It was a polarizing decision, as Ayton's generational talent has yet to yield the results many expected it to.
Regardless of what Ayton manages to accomplish in Los Angeles, what's abundantly clear is that the franchise still needs an adequate backup—and Nick Richards is their best option.
Ayton will enter training camp as the odds-on favorite to become the Lakers' next starting center. For all of the concerns over his track record of inconsistency, his talent level is undeniable, and Luka Doncic and LeBron James are as likely as anyone to bring the best out of him.
Even if Ayton lives up to his All-Star potential, however, the Lakers will still need depth to account for potential issues such as foul trouble or injuries.
As it stands, the Lakers' backup center would be Maxi Kleber or Jarred Vanderbilt in an undersized rotation that asks him to defend above his weight class. Both players are capable in a pinch, but they've also played a combined 138 games over the past two seasons—and are better at the 4-spot even when they're healthy.
Thankfully, the Lakers still have an attainable trade option in Richards—and the cost of doing business shouldn't do much to alter the current roster structure.
Nick Richards is the ideal Deandre Ayton backup for Lakers to pursue
The deeper the Phoenix Suns get into free agency, the weaker their leverage becomes in potential Richards trade conversations. Desperate teams may suggest otherwise, but Phoenix has a rotation of three centers who lack the necessary skill sets to play alongside one another.
Considering the Suns added Khaman Maluach with the No. 10 pick at the 2025 NBA Draft and traded for Mark Williams, it's safe to assume Richards will be the odd man out.
With those circumstances in mind, the Lakers should be aggressive in pursuing Richards as a potentially perfect backup center. He's a proven commodity as far as high-level production is concerned, and offers a chance for a seamless skill transition from starter to reserve.
While Ayton is a walking double-double who can finish with power and athleticism, Richards offers similar characteristics on an expiring $5 million contract.
In 2024-25, Richards ranked in the top 20 in the NBA in rebounding percentage—total, offensive, and defensive. During the 36 games that followed his trade from the Charlotte Hornets to the Suns, he also averaged 1.28 points per play as a pick and roll dive man.
Among players who averaged at least 2.0 pick and roll dive man possessions per game, Richards ranked No. 5 in the NBA—a promising sign as far as fitting alongside Luka Doncic is concerned.
In terms of what he contributes to the box score, Richards posted averages of 9.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.6 offensive boards, and 1.2 blocks in 22.0 minutes per game in 2024-25. Those figures translated to 15.2 points, 13.4 rebounds, 4.2 offensive boards, and 1.6 blocks per 36 minutes.
With a team-friendly salary, tremendous per-36 production, and value in two key areas as a pick and roll specialist and high-tier rebounder, Richards would be the perfect Lakers backup.