The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to deal with their big-man issues amid the absence of three frontcourt players on their roster due to injury. Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Koloko, and Christian Wood are all on the shelf, each recovering from injuries.
Vanderbilt, Koloko, and Wood could return at any point in the season, but rookie coach JJ Redick’s squad still looks to add one more big man to their roster while the injured players heal up to make sure their bases are covered.
According to ClutchPoints insider Brett Siegel, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to trade for Charlotte Hornets center Nick Richards. He reported that the purple-and-gold franchise considered various options over the summer as a potential trade target, ultimately showing interest in the Jamaican big man who has gradually become a solid starting center for the Hornets over the past four seasons.
“The Lakers expressed interest in several possible trade targets during the summer, league sources confirmed to ClutchPoints. One of the players they expressed interest in was Nick Richards from the Charlotte Hornets,” Siegel said.
So far, the only thing the Los Angeles Lakers managed to do during the summer was to bring in Redick as their new head coach. According to Siegel, the franchise hasn’t got any leverage in pursuing the seven-foot center, whom they have been interested in trading for since the 2023-24 NBA trade deadline.
Richards averaged 6.7 points and 5.3 rebounds over his four seasons with Charlotte. In the previous season—his best one so far—he averaged 9.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game.
Los Angeles Lakers also reportedly eyeing former Boston Celtics center
Aside from Nick Richards, the Los Angeles Lakers have explored multiple options for a potential trade to bolster their frontcourt, one notable target being the former Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III. Unfortunately, trading for him isn’t ideal for the moment as he is also dealing with an injury.
Williams was diagnosed with a grade-1 hamstring strain on October 4. He is expected to miss at least two weeks of basketball action due to the injury.
“They got me ramping back on court now,” Williams said. “Hamstring’s kind of sensitive, so when it first happens, you gotta take it lightly.”
Williams only appeared in six games last season, averaging 6.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.
Meanwhile, in some update for the Los Angeles Lakers, Christian Wood is expected to be re-evaluated in the first week of November, Jarred Vanderbilt is expected to be ready to return at the start of the 2024-25 season, and Christian Koloko is waiting for his clearance from the league’s Fitness-to-Play panel of doctors.
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