Lakers predicted to land game-changing center in shocking trade proposal
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The Los Angeles Lakers are in for an interesting summer.
After exiting the playoffs in just five games against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers’ biggest glaring issue was the lack of a true starting-caliber big man. Rudy Gobert had the best game of his career in the Timberwolves’ series-clinching Game 5 win, scoring 27 points while snagging 24 rebounds.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that Lakers general manager, Rob Pelinka made calls to the Atlanta Hawks at this past February’s trade deadline in hopes of acquiring big man, Onyeka Okongwu before ultimately deciding on a deal with the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams, before Williams failed a physical, which forced the trade to be rescinded.
The deal for Okongwu is something the Lakers may revisit this summer as Pelinka continues to look for their answer at center. In the proposed deal, the Lakers would be giving up a similar package to what they offered for Williams before the trade was called back.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Onyeka Okongwu
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Dalton Knecht, Gabe Vincent, 2031 First-Round Pick (unprotected)
The Lakers would finally have their answer when it comes to a starting-caliber center in Okongwu, who averaged career highs of 13.4 points per game to go along with 8.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per contest in just under 28-minutes a night. Okongwu will earn a reasonable $15 million over each of the next two seasons.
For the Hawks, the deal may not make the most sense on the face of it, but cashing in on Okongwu while he’s at his highest value while acknowledging the club is likely not ready to win a championship, acquiring a young role player in Knecht while acquiring a potentially high lottery pick in 2031 may be the correct course of action.
Colby Faria
Colby Faria is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. His decade-plus sports writing experience spans the likes of NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA, men’s and women’s college sports, MMA, boxing and much more.
