Securing the long-term future of the center position should still be high on the priorities list for the Los Angeles Lakers when the summer arrives. As things stand, the futures of their current rotation players remain a question mark for 2026-27.
Deandre Ayton will have an $8.1 million player option for next season. Jaxson Hayes will hit unrestricted free agency. If Maxi Kleber is to be counted among that group, the veteran big man will also have his contract expire.
If the Lakers wanted it, they could probably do a complete makeover in the frontcourt. One name who will be available among a list of options is Nick Richards, someone who has previously been tied to the organization.
Chicago Bulls writer Andrew Hanlon certainly believed Richards could follow management out the door in the Windy City. Much like the Lakers bigs, Richards is due to hit the open market 2026 free agency. Rob Pelinka should have bigger aspirations at this point.
Lakers should evolve past temporary solutions like Nick Richards
Richards could have been fine as a patchwork solution when the Lakers frontcourt looked worse than it is now. However, being a temporary fix for a pressing need is what got him to Chicago. His time with the Bulls left a lot to be desired.
In a pinch, there are far worse centers out there than Richards. Luka Doncic can realistically get a lot out of anyone at that spot, too. Even so, placing duct tape over a massive crack in the foundation should not be the goal for this offseason.
The Lakers should be looking for someone who can join Doncic for a prolonged stay in Los Angeles. There are better options to try and satisfy that need.
Restricted free agents like Jalen Duren and Walker Kessler can invite a strategy of trying to pry away those talents with an offer sheet or sign-and-trade. A potentially unrestricted option like Isaiah Hartenstein (team option) would serve the Lakers much better too.
Pelinka and the front office could even explore plenty of other avenues on the trade market for a long-term solution. There are just so many routes to travel that are better than Richards.
The 28-year-old should really not be viewed as more than a backup center option for Los Angeles. With that in mind, is going out to get Richards really even an upgrade over Hayes? The Lakers' current backup has built reliable chemistry with the playmakers of the team.
Figuring out what direction to go in at center is no lower than a top-five priority on the offseason agenda. With so much pressure to get it right, the Lakers should not settle for passable.
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