The Los Angeles Lakers finished the regular season as the third seed in the West, but they ultimately failed to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs. While many picked the Lakers to win the series, and some analysts even predicted that Luka Doncic would put on an absolute masterclass, the reality was the opposite. The analysts weren’t wrong about Doncic has he put on a show offensively, but defense is where the Lakers just had no answer.
Their opponent, Minnesota Timberwolves, beat them with size and length, something that the Lakers didn’t have but desperately needed. When the Lakers traded away Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic on February, we all knew that the Lakers were adding a whole offensive firepower, but defensively is where they would struggle, as Davis is one of the best defenders in the NBA who mightily protected the paint for the Lakers. Initially everything worked out great for the Lakers as they were leading the NBA in defensive efficiency for a while, even after the Doncic trade. However, in the playoffs most teams make adjustments, and Timberwolves’ headcoach Chris Finch knew what the Lakers didn’t have.
The Timberwolves beat the Lakers in the paint, by outscoring them inside, beating them to loose balls and accumulating offensive boards, which ultimately ended the series in just 5 games in favor of the Timberwolves. So what’s next for the Lakers, you may ask? They need a center who can catch lobs, protect the paint, and possibly shoot the three too. So let us take a look at which centers the Lakers can realistically get in the 2025 offseason.
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The Los Angeles Lakers could sign Jaren Jackson Jr. this offseason, which will most likely fill up most of the holes that the Lakers have currently. Jackson Jr. currently plays for the Memphis Grizzlies, and is a former Defensive Player of the Year winner, who can most definitely protect the paint, and score buckets on the other end of the court. The only downside to Jackson’s game is that he can be a little inconsistent when it comes to his offense, but he can defend, has the size, shoot the three ball, and be a perfect pick-and-roll combo for Luka Doncic who thrives when he has somebody that can be a lob threat.
This would be very ideal for the Lakers, as the Jackson is only 25 years old, and he could be a long term option for the Lakers, if they manage to get him. However, the Lakers may have to possibly give up a lot to acquire Jackson, that is if the Grizzlies want to. The asking price could most likely be Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, and a 2031-First Round Pick, and a 2026-First Round Swap, for Jackson Jr.
Claxton has been with the Brooklyn Nets ever since the James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving era, and he was the primary rim protector for the Nets ever since. Claxton is an extremely athletic center, and when he was playing alongside James Harden, he was the perfect lob threat for the Nets at that time. If the Lakers were to trade for Claxton, that would solve majority of the center problems for the Lakers. He can protect the paint, as he’s been a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in the past, and has the athleticism to be Luka’s prefect lob partner. The Lakers can most likely trade for Claxton by sending Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and a 2031 First-Round pick to the Brooklyn Nets.
Clint Capela is currently in his prime playing for the Atlanta Hawks, and while the Hawks are on the come up with Trae Young leading the core, with Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, and rookie Zaccharie Risacher, Capela is 30 years old, and his priorities could be winning a championship. Capela would also be a great fit for the L.A Lakers, as we’ve seen how he has been effective throughout his career by simply being a lob threat, and a rim protector.
Capela, playing alongside James Harden, when they were both in Houston, was an essential contributor to the Mike D’Antoni ran offense, and he learned how to be a lob threat and a rim protector playing for the Rockets. Since then his role has been similar playing for the Hawks, but his minutes have significantly decreased since his Houston days. The Lakers could offer Jarred Vanderbilt, Maxi Kleber, and a 2031 second round pick, in exchange for Capela, who would be a great fit for Doncic, LeBron, and the group.
John Collins was an essential part of the Atlanta Hawks core in 2021, when they made the Eastern Conference Finals but were defeated by the Milwaukee Bucks. He’s proven in the past that he can guard ‘Bigs’ like Joel Embiid, even though he’s just 6-feet-9 inches, and primarily plays the power forward spot. Collins can also shoot the three ball as he shot 39.9 percent from beyond the arc in the 2024-2025 season. However, the biggest attribute that he has, is his high-flying ability, as he can catch lobs that only a few players can reach, and absolutely destroy the rim. Add Luka Doncic making plays for him, and Collins could become an unstoppable player.
We’ve seen how easily he caught lobs when he played alongside Trae Young, who is equally a great distributor just like Luka Doncic. Collins quietly had on of his best seasons playing at Utah in 2024-2025, averaging 19.0 points, 1.0 blocks, 1.0 steals, with 8.2 rebounds, on 52.7 percent shooting from the field, and 84.8 percent from the free throw line, something that most front court players are terrible at.
Last but not the least is Jakob Poeltl. Poeltl is currently playing for the Toronto Raptors, and he has become one of the most important pieces for the Raptors. While we can’t be too sure about if the Raptors would be willing to give him up, what we can say is if he were to play alongside Luka and LeBron, he would have a lot easier time scoring. Poeltl also has a unique ability that very few centers have, and it’s his ability to dish it to the open man. He is a good passer, he can rebound the basketball well, and protect the rim with his length as he is listed at 7 feet. Last season, Poeltl had his best season scoring wise, as he put up 14.5 points per game, on 62.7 percent shooting, and averaged 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.
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