A former first-round draft pick might be exactly what Los Angeles needs.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ impressive regular-season performance was ultimately eclipsed by their early playoff exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Chasing championships is at the heart of the Lakers’ identity—a standard that has defined the franchise for years. As they look ahead to the 2025–26 season, general manager Rob Pelinka and the Lakers’ front office are fully aware that upgrading the center position is a priority. One seasoned player, in particular, could be the answer the team is looking for.
Lakers fans will recall that the team previously reached a trade agreement with the Charlotte Hornets for center Mark Williams, only for the deal to fall apart after Williams failed his physical. What wasn’t widely known at the time was that Williams wasn’t the only Southeastern Division big the Lakers were eyeing—talks surrounding another player may resume this summer.
Lakers Aim to Solve Center Dilemma with Proposed Onyeka Okongwu Trade
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers reached out to the Atlanta Hawks before the trade deadline to explore what it might take to acquire former USC standout Onyeka Okongwu.
Los Angeles Lakers RECEIVE: Onyeka Okongwu
Atlanta Hawks RECEIVE: Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, 2031 First-Round Pick
This potential package would cost the Lakers slightly more than the proposed deal for Williams. Still, there’s a strong argument that Okongwu currently offers more on-court value than the Hornets’ center.
The Lakers are in need of a player who can truly impact games in the paint. A trade for Okongwu could give them exactly that—and notably, they wouldn’t have to part with any of their key core players to make it a reality.
