Opening night is only eight days away, and the Los Angeles Lakers are still searching for centers. Having lost out on veteran bruisers who would have helped LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the team reportedly inquired about a younger big man from the east who could benefit from a change of scenery.
Lakers Rumors: Team Pursued Young Eastern Conference Center
Lakers Engaged in Talks with Hornets
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Lakers previously called the Charlotte Hornets about 26-year-old center Nick Richards. The 7-foot forward/center was the 42nd pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and holds career averages of 6.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.8 blocks on .661/.333/.736 splits. This past season, he put up a career-high 9.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game on 69% shooting from the field and 73% from the line. Siegel elaborates:
“While he did not hold much of a role during his first two years in the league, Richards has since become a very intriguing role player at the center position because of his rebounding and toughness on the interior. Due to Charlotte dealing with various frontcourt injuries through the years, Richards has stepped up into a much larger role for them, as he played in a career high 67 games and made 51 starts during the 2023-24 season.
In March 2023, the Hornets extended the young big man with a three-year, $15 million extension, a contract many teams around the league have raised an eyebrow to because of his production.”
Siegel added that the Hornets were open to hearing “all offers that came their way” with the goal of “setting themselves up for long-term potential.”
Richards has set himself apart with his defense and rebounding—two areas that the Lakers have struggled in beyond the help of Davis. Last season was arguably the best of his young career, and he will look to carry that momentum into year five. Richards notched double figures in 37 games last season. He even had three 20-point double-doubles, including a career-high 26-point, 13-rebound performance against the Jazz in late January.
At 7’0” and 245 pounds, he fits the exact mold that head coach JJ Redick is looking for in an additional big. However, as sources told Siegel:
“…no real traction on a deal ever materialized from Charlotte’s point of view.”
Aside from LA, other teams that expressed interest in Richards were the Knicks and Cavaliers, per ClutchPoints.
Not the Only Big Man the Lakers Like
The Lakers’ pursuit of Nick Richards is the latest in a long line of names that have popped up in purple and gold rumors. Siegel acknowledged LA’s past pursuit of Jonas Valanciunas, though he speculated on other names that could be in the mix. Among them are Robert Williams III, Kelly Olynyk, Walker Kessler and Clint Capela. Capela, according to Siegel, was someone the Lakers were hoping to acquire next to Dejounte Murray before the 2024 draft.
Could Talks for a Center Reopen Soon?
The Lakers have remained relatively aggressive in the trade market, though have airballed all opportunities to get James and Davis help where they need it the most. GM Rob Pelinka has said it will take roughly 30 games to assess the team before any moves are made. That mark falls on New Year’s Eve of 2024, when LA takes on the Cleveland Cavaliers. It also notably comes after the Dec. 15 restriction of when newly signed players can be traded, opening up many possibilities that Pelinka, Redick and governor Jeanie Buss could explore.
For now, the Lakers will roll with what they have, banking on availability and execution to get them off to a good start in the Redick area. There may always be chances for LA to improve, but it’s up to them to capitalize on those opportunities.
