As the Lakers watched the playoffs unfold, one weakness became impossible to ignore: the center rotation simply was not good enough. If they want to be true contenders, they clearly need an upgrade in the middle. The solution for Los Angeles could be the same type of center that helped Luka Doncic reach the NBA Finals in Dallas: the Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively archetype.
According to The Athletic, the Lakers’ ideal center targets this offseason are healthier versions of Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively. They are prioritizing athletic lob threats and stronger rim protection around Luka Doncic.
“Those priorities remain, according to league sources. There is a desire for better center play, true lob threats who mimic the skills of Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II (with cleaner injury histories).”
This approach makes sense after seeing how the playoffs went. DeAndre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes had some good moments during the season, but neither consistently provided what top playoff teams expect from their centers. Against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Lakers didn’t have steady rim protection, vertical spacing, reliable rebounding, or enough defensive mobility in the paint. Oklahoma City kept attacking the middle, and the Lakers had trouble getting easy points from their big men.
The Limits of Ayton and Hayes
DeAndre Ayton often played better than expected this season, especially given his contract. He had some strong games against Houston in the first round, showing the scoring and rebounding skills that made him a top draft pick. But as the playoffs went on, his limitations became more obvious.
Ayton has offensive skills, but he doesn’t always play with the constant energy and vertical threat that Gafford and Lively bring. He can finish lobs and score near the basket, but he doesn’t put steady pressure on defenses with rim runs. On defense, he also had trouble making a big impact against quicker, more athletic teams.
Jaxson Hayes played with energy and athleticism all season, but the Lakers didn’t fully trust him in important moments. Sometimes his rim-running made a difference, but inconsistency, defensive errors, and a lack of physicality kept him from a bigger role. In the playoffs, the Lakers needed more steady play at center than Hayes could offer.
The Dallas Blueprint
Dallas showed the league how to build around Luka Doncic during their 2024 Finals run. Gafford and Lively didn’t need the ball to make an impact. They helped by setting screens, running to the rim, grabbing offensive rebounds, and protecting the paint, which let Doncic control the game in pick-and-roll plays.
Having that kind of center changes how teams defend. If defenders move up on Doncic, he can throw a lob. If they stick with the roller, Doncic gets space to drive or set up open threes for teammates. The Lakers didn’t have that steady pressure from their centers this season.
The Lakers also want centers with fewer injury concerns than Gafford and Lively, who both missed significant time this season. This is important because staying healthy has become a top priority for the team after injuries ruined a promising run in March.
Who Fits the Archetype?
Nic Claxton and Myles Turner fit this center style because they’re mobile, protect the rim, and can finish lobs. But the Lakers would have to trade to get them.
The more straightforward route would be to sign a free agent outright. Mitchell Robinson is expected to be available and matches the profile of an athletic center who can run the floor, protect the rim, and rebound when healthy. Isaiah Hartenstein might be an option if the Oklahoma City Thunder don’t pick up his team option, which many expect because of their financial situation and roster depth. Hartenstein isn’t as athletic as Gafford or Lively, but he offers toughness, good screens, rebounding, passing, and defensive versatility that would work well with Luka Doncic.
It’s clear now that the Lakers aren’t just looking for better players. They want to build the kind of team that has worked best around Doncic in the past. After the playoffs showed the problems with their current centers, fixing this has become urgent.
