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Three Center Trade Targets For Los Angeles Lakers To Pair With Luka Dončić And LeBron James

James PierceyJanuary 19, 2026January 19, 2026

Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The Los Angeles Lakers are a team in transition. The NBA’s most glamorous market is typically defined by a singular superstar. As things stand, the Lakers have three cornerstone names: LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Austin Reaves. The difference is timeline. At 41, James is nearing the end of his career, while Dončić represents the franchise’s long-term foundation.

Reaves remains a valuable connective piece — a portable guard capable of fitting alongside nearly any star. With Dončić now central to the Lakers’ planning, the directive is clear: surround him with reliable pieces that raise the roster’s floor. That process almost certainly begins with strengthening the center rotation.

Here are three realistic targets the Lakers could consider as they look to add necessary frontcourt depth.

Robert Williams III, Portland Trail Blazers

Robert Williams III has been connected to the Lakers before, underscoring how long the franchise has searched for stability in the frontcourt.

Williams has averaged 6.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 0.6 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 15.9 minutes per game across 30 games this season, providing consistent defensive impact in a limited role.

His value is rooted in rim protection and mobility. Williams alters shots, closes space quickly, and brings an interior presence that allows perimeter defenders to be more aggressive. For a Lakers team built around Dončić’s playmaking, that kind of defensive support carries real value.

Durability remains the primary concern, but Williams has been available this season. Even with that risk, Los Angeles would benefit from having another defensive-minded center capable of anchoring second units or closing games situationally.

Daniel Gafford, Dallas Mavericks

Daniel Gafford represents a different type of depth addition — one centered on continuity and offensive fit.

He has averaged 7.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 20.8 minutes per game across 29 games this season, continuing to provide efficient interior scoring and consistent rim protection.

Dončić knows Gafford’s game well. Their time together in Dallas showed how effective Gafford can be as a screener and vertical spacer. That familiarity matters when the goal is to reduce adjustment time and maximize possessions.

From Dallas’ perspective, Gafford is increasingly movable. Dereck Lively II is viewed as the long-term solution at center, and the organization is orienting toward a broader retool around Cooper Flagg. If the Mavericks can convert Gafford into draft capital, it aligns with that direction.

For the Lakers, adding a big who already understands Dončić’s tendencies would immediately stabilize the rotation.

Clint Capela, Houston Rockets

Capela reunited with the Rockets in free agency this summer, but his role has been limited. He has averaged 3.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.6 blocks in 11.4 minutes per game across 34 appearances, operating primarily as insurance behind Steven Adams.

Roster needs, however, evolve. Houston appears to need additional ball-handling more than a third center, creating potential flexibility.

The Lakers do not have an obvious guard to send back, but a multi-team structure could resolve that imbalance. For Los Angeles, Capela would not be asked to do much beyond screening, rolling, and protecting the rim — tasks he has executed at a high level throughout his career.

Adding Capela would allow the Lakers to establish a true center platoon, giving the coaching staff flexibility based on matchup and game flow.

Outlook for the Los Angeles Lakers

Depth matters when building around a high-usage creator like Dončić. The goal is not to find a singular answer at center, but to assemble enough reliable options to withstand injuries, manage minutes, and maintain structural integrity over an 82-game season. With a 25-16 record through 41 games, there is a real opportunity to do some damage with reinforced depth around him.

As long as a big can defend the rim, set solid screens, and operate in the pick-and-roll, he can function alongside Dončić. That remains the guiding principle behind how the Lakers should approach reinforcing the five.