.jpg)
1 hour ago
3
While the Los Angeles Lakers could land a Luka Doncic-approved center via a much-needed trade, the franchise may find itself improving its frontcourt through free agency.
The Athletic’s Zach Harper believes that a former Philadelphia 76ers center and NBA champion center is a possible offseason target for Los Angeles following the organization’s decision to sign Austin Reaves to a four-year, $185 million contract extension.
“You can maybe get a significant player or two at $28 million,” Harper wrote Thursday. “If we’re looking at wings and big men on the market, here are some players who are out there: Big men: Kristaps Porzingis, Nikola Vučević, Jusuf Nurkić, Zach Collins, Mo Wagner.”
Vucevic managed to escape purgatory midway through the 2025-26 season, as the struggling Chicago Bulls traded him to the 18-time champion Celtics before the Feb. 5 deadline.
Vucevic was an immediate impact contributor for the Celtics upon his midseason arrival.
The 6-foot-9 center’s floor-spacing chops, methodical back-to-the-basket offensive approach, and overall experience proved to be beneficial in Boston.
Vucevic averaged 9.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest in 16 games with Boston, shooting 43.9% from the field and 34.0% from beyond the arc on a Celtics squad that defied the odds and earned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference without Jayson Tatum for most of the year (recovery from Achilles injury).
Vucevic was near unplayable toward the end of the Celtics’ first-round playoff series vs. the Philadelphia 76ers, as his inefficiency and defensive limitations caused his minutes to diminish (he didn’t appear for Boston in Game 7).
At this stage of his career, Vucevic shouldn’t be perceived as a Tier 1 center target for Los Angeles.
However, if the Lakers strike out on their priority targets, they may zero in on the USC product to ensure they don’t start the 2026-27 campaign with DeAndre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes anchoring the frontcourt.
More NBA news:
English (US)