ESPN’s front office expert Bobby Marks pitched a way for the LA Lakers to address their center position through the NBA Draft.
The Los Angeles Lakers are set for a blockbuster summer. After the announcement that Mark Walter purchased the Lakers for $10 billion, the team is looking to upgrade its roster.
Walters’ history with MLB side LA Dodgers shows that he isn’t afraid to spend big money to help his side compete for championships.
This will be good news for Lakers fans, as it could be a sign that Walter won’t disrespect Luka Doncic like the Mavericks did by trading him to avoid paying him.
But the new owner can’t change the fact that their roster has some weaknesses. The Lakers desperately need a new center after their first-round playoff exit proved their lack of depth at the five spot.
In that vein, ESPN analyst and former Brooklyn Nets assistant GM Bobby Marks pitched a trade to help the Lakers address that problem.
Ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft, ESPN analyst Bobby Marks proposed a three-team trade between the LA Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, and Portland Trail Blazers. This is what his pitch looks like:
- LA Lakers receive: #8 overall pick (BKN), #36 overall pick (BKN)
- Portland Trail Blazers receive: Dalton Knecht (LAL), 2027 first-round pick (top-4 protected, BKN via NYK)
- Brooklyn Nets receive: #11 overall pick (POR), 2031 first-round pick (LAL)
With the #8 pick, the Lakers could land Khaman Maluach, the standout Duke center. At 7’0 tall, Maluach has a lot of potential and is already a strong player who can contribute at a high level. They can also add a solid rotation piece with the #36 pick in the second round of the NBA Draft.
As for the Trail Blazers, they get Dalton Knecht, one of the coveted players from the 2024 NBA Draft class, along with a future first-round pick belonging to the Knicks.
And the Brooklyn Nets will move down three spots to 11th, while also getting their hands on the Lakers’ final first-round pick from 2031.
Despite being so young, Maluach is the perfect fit for the Lakers and Luka Doncic. For starters, Maluach is the ideal height for a rim-protecting center in the NBA today.
Last season with Duke, Maluach averaged 1.3 blocks per game, while grabbing 6.6 rebounds.
While his rebounding numbers might appear low for a player with his stature, fans should remember that he played alongside Cooper Flagg, who averaged 7.5 rebounds and was one of the team’s initiators on offense after grabbing boards.
Plus, Maluach also proved to be a strong finisher as a pick-and-roll lob threat, converting 95% of his shots as the roll man.
Luka Doncic is excellent at elevating bigs he plays with, providing them with lobs and strong passes that they can convert at the rim.
The only issue with this deal is its feasibility. The Brooklyn Nets are unlikely to move down in the draft, unless they can secure another top-10 pick via another trade.
But if Rob Pelinka can find any way to make this happen, he should do everything in his power to get this deal done and land the Lakers’ center for the next decade.
