Lakers set up to trade for Pistons' 21-year-old enforcer this summer

The Los Angeles Lakers don’t look physical enough to compete for an NBA championship.

Los Angeles’ 117-95 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round exposed how the Lakers can get pushed around.

Lakers fans are wondering right now if Minnesota might have been one of the worst draws in the first round for LeBron James and Co.

LA is big at most positions, but the Lakers don’t have an “enforcer”-type center that would be useful to help them survive the West gauntlet. Jaxson Hayes is a good lob threat offensively, but he’s not a good rebounder and lacks the strength to wrestle with the West’s stronger centers like Nikola Jokic, Ivica Zubac, Naz Reid, and others.

The Lakers knew they were ill-equipped at the center position after the Mark Williams trade gone wrong, but they assumed they were talented enough with LeBron and Luka Dončić at the head of the snake, and that lacking a sturdy five-man wouldn’t matter.

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That might have been an overestimation.

Even if LA survives the first round and figures out a way to combat Minnesota’s unrelenting physicality, the Lakers are probably going to get outmuscled in a later round, which will lead GM Rob Pelinka to bring in a powerful center this summer via trade or free agency.

It was rumored back in February that Pelinka was trying to get Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren before the deadline, and that makes sense — Duren is exactly who the Lakers need right now but don’t have.

Duren might be available for the taking this summer, meaning that Pelinka could be waiting in the wings to pursue once again.

The Pistons are set up to have a lot of cap space and their offseason is difficult to predict. Duren has a team option for $6.5 million next season before becoming a free agent in the summer of 2026. You have to think Detroit would pick up his option and retain him, but if they go all-in on a few massive signings (Kevin Durant?), who knows which team options they will prioritize as they figure out cap space.

Detroit has another enforcer big man, Isaiah Stewart, under contract through 2027-28, so the Pistons might consider Duren expendable.

If so, Pelinka should swoop in and acquire the 21-year-old.

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