The start of NBA free agency is only a few weeks away and the Los Angeles Lakers have a clear and obvious need at center. After the Mark Williams trade with the Charlotte Hornets fell through at the trade deadline, the Lakers would end up having a gaping hole in their frontcourt for the remainder of the season. This weakness ultimately played a big role in their early elimination from the postseason at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Now that the offseason is about to get under way, the Lakers can finally address this void in their lineup. But which available center or centers will they decide to pursue? Let’s take a look at some free agent centers that could be on their shortlist.
Naz Reid
The 25-year-old former Sixth Man of the Year appears to be one of the more likely options for the Purple and Gold. Reid, who has one year remaining on his current contract, is expected to opt out and test free agency this summer. Reid would not only be able to earn more money by leaving Minnesota, he would also have the opportunity be a starter for a team like the Lakers—something that the Timberwolves cannot offer him. According to Bovada Sportsbook, the Lakers are among the favorites to sign Naz Reid should he decide to leave Minnesota. L.A.’s intrastate rivals, the Golden State Warriors, currently have the best odds to sign Reid at +175.
Myles Turner
Adding a player of Turner’s caliber would be the best case scenario for the Lakers. Turner is still in his prime at 29 years old, and has led the league in blocks twice during his career. Turner has also played an integral role in the Indiana Pacers’ run to the NBA Finals this season, starting 72 games in the regular season and playing an average of 30.2 minutes per game. It’s obvious that Turner will generate a significant amount of interest once he hits the open market next month, giving the Lakers plenty of competition for his services.
Other Options
Barring a trade or some other unforeseen move, signing either Reid or Turner would be the ideal answer for the Lakers to address their need at center. However, should both of those options fall through, what other free agent centers might L.A. pursue?
Clint Capela is an option that the Lakers may have some degree of interest in; however, Capela is probably not good enough to be a starting center at this point in his career. Capela is 31 years old and there was a steep decline in his offensive production during the 2024-25 season. Capela only averaged 8.9 points per game last season, marking the first time in nine seasons that Capela averaged less than 10 points per game for a full season.
Capela’s average rebounds per game also took a noticeable dip, falling into single digits for the first time since the 2016-17 season. While Capela might be a solid addition to add depth to the Lakers’ roster, he is not a viable option to be their starting center.
Other free agent centers include the likes of Brook Lopez, Al Horford, Precious Achiuwa, and Luke Kornet.
