A team that protects the rim well will deter opponents from even trying to attack the hoop. When someone like Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert, or Chet Holmgren is patrolling the paint, it changes the complexion of the entire game. On the flip side, when a team is playing against the Lakers, they can essentially prance into the lane and get shots up any time they want.
Currently, the Lakers are ranked No. 29 in blocked shots, which is second-to-last, ahead of only the Utah Jazz, whose main shot-blocker is out for the season. It doesn't take long to figure out why the Lakers are so poor at protecting the rim; neither of their centers blocks shots! Deandre Ayton has averaged barely 1 block per game over the course of his career, and Jaxson Hayes recorded his first blocked shot since January 6th on Tuesday, so that's progress, I suppose, but probably not a sustainable rim protection plan.
Both guys (sometimes) contribute to the game in different ways, but seldom by swatting shot attempts. Thus, any big man the Lakers acquire in the next few weeks needs to be a threat to block a shot, if nothing else. No one expects an elite two-way center to fall into the Lakers' lap, so if he blocks shots and does nothing else, that still feels like a win. That's how badly this team needs paint protection right now.
Lakers need to prioritize rim protection at the trade deadline
There are plenty of problems with the Lakers defense, and a backup center isn't going to solve them all, no matter how good a shot-blocker he may be.
But the last line of defense being as weak as it has been for this team just isn't acceptable. The Thunder, Rockets, and Timberwolves, meanwhile, are all in the top 10 for blocked shots. The Spurs are No. 17 but they have a cheat code protecting the paint, so teams are scared to attack the hoop at all. The Lakers don't have anything close to that.
Not having any resistance at the rim can be a team's downfall in the postseason. In halfcourt sets, if opponents can march to the hoop for 48 straight minutes, that's not a recipe for success. Save the city of Los Angeles, Robert Williams! Or Nic Claxton! Or anyone who can block a shot and it won't be shocking! That's not too much to ask for, right?