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Par Mathieu Seguin | Rédacteur sport
After a frustrating early playoff exit, the Lakers are actively searching for a true center who can boost their defense and interior presence. The front office is looking for a player to fill this crucial gap this summer during free agency.
This summer is crucial for the Lakers as they aim to bounce back after an early playoff elimination. The front office understands the urgent need to strengthen the frontcourt to support LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Several names are already circulating in free agency and even for the draft.
One name that frequently comes up is Clint Capela, an experienced center known for his defensive impact and paint presence. With Rudy Gobert sometimes dominating the paint in the playoffs, the Lakers felt the need to find a player who can balance their interior lineup. Rob Pelinka is already very active behind the scenes.
The Lakers’ Likely New Addition Revealed?
Clint Capela will be a free agent this summer, which could make it easier for Los Angeles to sign him. He is eligible for a “mid-level exception” contract, a salary cap of around $5.3 million, which the Lakers could use to secure this key reinforcement. Whether it’s Capela or another player, Brook Lopez, Nic Claxton, and Daniel Gafford are other potential targets.
Jovan Buha : ““I think the most likely is Capela. I know people don’t want to hear that. I think, the reason I would pick Clint Capela is because among the higher-level center options — which I’m maybe being generous here looking at the free agent class — I think he’s the most likely to leave as things stand now because he was replaced in Atlanta by Okongwu and moved to the bench, and I think that just seems like a situation where he’s likely to move on to somewhere else, be it as a starter or a high-level bench center…”
Beyond Capela, the Purple and Gold might also consider signing another complementary center. The idea would be to build a solid interior rotation combining different qualities to meet the defensive and tactical challenges faced last season. This depth will be essential to compete in a highly competitive Western Conference.
Finally, signing Capela would fit into a broader strategy to improve defense and paint presence, while freeing LeBron James and Luka Doncic from some defensive responsibilities. The coming weeks will be decisive to see if the Lakers can make this move and strengthen an ambitious team for the 2025-26 season. Answers expected late June/early July.
