Asked during an appearance on the Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcast whether he has heard any buzz linking the Lakers to Onyeka Okongwu, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said Los Angeles inquired with the Hawks about the big man earlier this year. McMenamin believes Okongwu was one of the centers Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka asked Luka Doncic about before the team reached an agreement to acquire Mark Williams.
“I do know that the Lakers made a call to the Hawks around the trade deadline about Okongwu,” McMenamin said (52:38 mark; hat tip to Ron Gutterman of Lakers Nation). “I think lob threat, athleticism, absolutely. In terms of being a perfect fit, maybe not. They might not get a perfect fit though. Clint Capela of ’17/18 probably was a perfect fit, but we’re in ’25/26 now. So that is kind of the spot they’re gonna be in.”
After voiding their deal with Charlotte for Williams in February due to concerns about his physical, the Lakers figure to make it a priority this summer to add a center in free agency or via trade. While there has been speculation about more ambitious trade targets like Nets big man Nic Claxton, McMenamin wonders if it would be in L.A.’s best interest to take a more conservative approach this offseason.
“I am of the opinion to not go all-in on someone like a Claxton, etc. making $20-30 million (per year),” he told McIntyre. “… They’re going to have the taxpayer mid-level available to them, so I’d try to go and get a guy at that level and if he doesn’t prove to be the best fit, make sure you’re holding on to one of your picks and then you can try to pursue something come February.”
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report takes a closer look at how the Lakers might address their hole in the middle this season. Pincus suggests that Daniel Gafford would be an ideal trade target, though he wonders if the Mavericks would be reluctant to make another deal with L.A. so soon after the Doncic blockbuster. Pincus also mentions the Raptors‘ Jakob Poeltl and the Magic‘s Goga Bitadze as possibilities, but acknowledges that Toronto will likely be reluctant to part with Poeltl and that Bitadze is more of a backup than a starter.
- Dorian Finney-Smith‘s contract situation is up in the air heading into the summer, since it’s unclear whether he plans to pick up the $15.4MM player option on his current contract or opt out in search of a new deal. However, as Khobi Price of The Orange County Register writes in a subscriber-only story, it sounds like the veteran forward wants to stick with the Lakers — during his exit interview, he referred to his half-season with the team as “amazing.”
- Assuming Finney-Smith remains with the Lakers, McMenamin expects him to be a valuable part of next season’s roster, as he said on his aforementioned podcast appearance with McIntyre. “I think Dorian Finney-Smith will be a major contributor on this year’s Lakers team,” McMenamin said. “He did not come in healthy and it took him some time to get some rhythm. With him having the comfort factor, the health factor on his side, I think he’ll be right there with being considered the (Lakers’) third-best player along with Austin Reaves.”
Rob’s problem is he wants to trade for a good player by using his spare partsand over paid players. Why would Atlanta trade a center that is under team control for the next 3 years unless they get back quality players and draft picks not Vincent and Kleber 2 players with very little value.
The Mark Williams offer (two firsts + Knecht) is likely the same offer they made for Okongwu (and any other starting center).
They could have used Williams but Rob made up an excuse. If I am Atlanta I ask for Rui and 2 first round picks one of them this year. Knecht value has gone down since he is a shooter that can’t play defense.
@arc89
Knecht still has value – it went down a bit because Redick benched him in the Wolves series.
with defense being a big factor in the playoffs Knecht value is not going up. There is a reason Lakers made him available to trade. He looks like a bench player since he doesn’t have 2 way ability. I don’t see Lakers making any decisions until LeBron and Smith resigns.
Atlanta already owns their 2025 pick.
@ Real
They only offered ONE 1st rd pick (+ Reddish and a 2030 pick swap) for Williams.
I see no reason that the Hawks would consider trading Okongwu. 24 yo putting up 13/9 with 3 years left on a $15 mil-17 mil contract, he’s a good value player.
Your point is valid. However with all these teams in luxury tax i do believe the expirings will have solid value for teams to get out of bad situations with the cap.
Contracts have value in they are expiring but you are not going to get a good young player for them. Best hope is get somebody that had a bad year who could turn it around or fill a hole on the bench.
Dave McMenamin: Klutch Sports-Los Angeles Lakers propagandist extraordinaire.
Yeah, the lakers staying in the news per usual. Giannis, Jokic, Sabonis to L.A every other day coming real soon. Sprinkle a few irrelevant past trade proposals that didn’t happen while they’re at it. So many Klutch sleeper cells with their mug on the box talking complete rubbish. Made up fairytales.
Free agency is gonna be weird. Not a lot of teams can sign players outright and sign and trades are going to have to be part of a few of these free agents. I assume guys will pick up the player options more often than not cause there isn’t much money to go around.
They should have kept Williams
They will have to settle for Clint Capella.