The Los Angeles Lakers need a center upgrade, but they wisely avoided acquiring Nikola Vucevic. Things are not working with Deandre Ayton, and head coach JJ Redick keeps benching him down the stretch. Ayton is not the rim protector and roll man Los Angeles needs flanking Luka Doncic. It has LA searching for an upgrade, but Vucevic is not the answer.
The two-time All-Star was traded from Chicago to the Celtics for Anfernee Simons. The teams swapped second-round picks in the deal. It was a small price to pay for a stretch five who’s a strong rebounder and playmaker, but he is not the defensive anchor a serious contender needs. Vooch is part of the reason the Bulls are always in the Play-In Tournament and struggle to win when the games matter most.
The Lakers want no part in that. They are trying to build a sustainable contender around Luka. The 35-year-old big man did not fit LA’s timeline and was not part of the plan. Rob Pelinka wisely stayed away, and Vucevic quickly became the rival Celtics problem.
Lakers wisely steer clear of Nikola Vucevic trade
Vucevic is on a $21.5 million expiring contract. It lowers the Celtics tax bill and gives them a needed option at the five. This doesn’t get them closer to title contention, but Anfernee Simons was not a long-term fit either. Saving money was enough to make this worth it for Boston.
The Lakers need to get a long-term answer at the five to pair with Luka Doncic. He thrived playing off Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford in Dallas. Doncic has even made Dwight Powell and Jaxson Hayes look like viable starting big men. He is a wizard in the pick-and-roll capable of carving up any defense. The Lakers need a defensive anchor to make them a serious threat, and it is on Rob Pelinka to find that player.
It appears Los Angeles is choosing to punt the trade deadline in favor of cap space this offseason. The Lakers can virtually clear their books and rebuild around Doncic. Austin Reaves’ small cap hold gives LA extra room, but it puts pressure on the front office to find significant upgrades. They will have three first-round draft picks to trade and room to maneuver. It will all be about getting things done.
The Lakers have wisely avoided overpaying or adding pieces that don’t fit ahead of the trade deadline. They passed on giving up a first-round draft pick for Keon Ellis and steered clear of the Nikola Vucevic trade. Both players would have filled holes, but were far from the ideal fits. The Lakers may actually be doing this right.
Los Angeles Lakers fans are certainly laughing that Nikola Vucevic ended up on the rival Boston Celtics. It will end in disaster as Vooch struggles to protect the rim and make a playoff impact. The Lakers stayed away, despite a need. That should tell fans all they need to know. Thankfully, a crisis was averted in Hollywood.