The Lakers are only a week away from kicking off their 2024-25 season, and there’s plenty of optimism surrounding the team. Led once again by NBA legend LeBron James and fellow All-Star Anthony Davis, they have a supporting roster that has the potential to outperform last year’s squad.
This is where new head coach JJ Redick comes into play, as the expectation is for him to help the team return to title contention this season. One of Redick’s strategies for 2024-25 involves moving Anthony Davis back to forward and pairing him with a traditional center.
However, a gap has emerged at the center position after Christian Wood underwent a second knee surgery this fall.
Following news of Wood’s injury, reports surfaced that the Lakers’ front office is actively searching for a new center through trades. It appears they have their sights set on a promising 26-year-old from the Eastern Conference, potentially Nick Richards.
On Monday, Sportskeeda NBA insider Brett Siegel reported that the Lakers had pursued several big men in trades over the summer, including veteran Nick Richards from the Charlotte Hornets. The Jamaican native was also linked to the New York Knicks before they ultimately traded for Karl-Anthony Towns earlier this month.
Richards, a former second-round pick, has shown consistent improvement over his four seasons in the league, particularly with the struggling Hornets. Last season, he earned a career-high 51 starts and averaged 26.3 minutes per game, nearly posting a double-double with 9.7 points and 8.0 rebounds.
Richards boasts a classic center physique and is a dependable rim protector. If the Lakers were to acquire him in a trade, he could be a significant game-changer for the team this season.
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