Lakers predicted to acquire promising $15 million center via trade with Hornets

The Los Angeles Lakers began their 2024-25 season on an incredible note.

The LeBron James—and Anthony Davis-led roster came out of the gates with three straight victories over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, and Sacramento Kings, some of the best teams in the Western Conference.

After their hot start, Los Angeles has maintained a 7-4 record through 11 games, currently in possession of the No. 6 seed in the conference.

Much of their success is attributed to the MVP-caliber season that Anthony Davis has put together so far, scoring a career-high 30.2 points to go along with 10.2 rebounds. 

The superstar center has been doing his best to keep the team afloat, even though the Lakers’ reserve options at the center position require Davis to carry much of the frontcourt load each night.

One of the biggest criticisms one could make about an otherwise positive start to the 2024-25 season for the Lakers is that their big-man depth is severely lacking. Aside from Davis, the franchise is forced to rely on Jaxson Hayes, Christian Koloko or even a small-ball LeBron James appearance at center when Davis exits any given contest.

To improve their frontcourt rotation, the Lakers may consider picking up the phone to contact the Charlotte Hornets about an improving player on a relatively cheap contract.

The No. 42 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, 26-year-old Nick Richards has become a consistent option in the Hornets rotation when healthy. Richards’ 11 points, 10 rebounds and 2.4 blocks as the Hornets’ full-time starter in 2024-25 has done plenty for raising his trade value prior to the deadline. 

Though Richards is currently sidelined with a rib cartilage fracture that he suffered on Nov. 1 against the Boston Celtics, he can be one of the Lakers’ main trade targets once he makes a return. 

Richards’ double-double averages in just 27.4 minutes are surely very appealing to Los Angeles, and landing Richards to back up Davis as another rim protector and lob threat may be beneficial to their strategy. 

The Lakers could also even experiment with a frontcourt of Davis and Richards, with Davis sliding back down to the power forward position amid his fantastic three-point shooting stretch.

In return for Richards, the Hornets would likely seek a combination of some of the Lakers’ prospects like Max Christie or Jalen Hood-Schifino and potential second-round draft capital.

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