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Par Mathieu Seguin | Rédacteur sport
It’s still too early to draw definitive conclusions, but Lakers fans are closely watching every move made by the front office—torn between hope and apprehension. At the center of recent debates: a possible trade with Brooklyn. And some already see signs of dangerous imbalance.
The name Nic Claxton keeps surfacing in Los Angeles. The Nets center is reportedly on the Lakers’ radar, as they look for a defensive big to support Luka Doncic. Bleacher Report recently proposed a trade idea: Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, and the Lakers’ 2031 first-round pick in exchange for Claxton. A solid offer on paper, but far from unanimously supported.
@asapkuzma : “Using all our main assets assumes that Nic Claxton gets us closer to a title. I don’t think that’s true—first, because Claxton isn’t that level of player, and second, because we still have three or four other urgent needs to fill (not even counting the hole left by Knecht and Rui).”
A controversial proposal for the Lakers
That opinion is widely echoed among the fanbase. While Claxton is respected for his rim protection, his offensive game is limited and he’s never played on a true title-contending team. At that cost, the trade might hinder more ambitious moves in the near future—especially since the 2031 pick is considered a valuable chip in today’s NBA trade landscape.
Still, the Lakers may not have much of a choice. Their frontcourt depth has shown major cracks, and getting a true center is a top priority. With Luka Doncic now leading the team, L.A. needs floor spacing and a reliable defensive anchor in the paint. Claxton checks some boxes—but is he truly the ideal fit?
Others are raising concerns about the bench depth. Trading away Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht would strip the Lakers of two solid role players—both capable of providing energy or scoring off the bench. And while Claxton strengthens the paint, he likely won’t solve all of the team’s structural issues.
The dilemma is real. Some fans would rather keep Knecht, a freshly drafted and promising rookie, or Rui, whose versatile profile remains useful in the playoffs. Others are holding out hope for a bigger trade or a more proven target—names like Jarrett Allen, Myles Turner, or even Walker Kessler are being floated. Nothing is certain yet, but with the NBA Draft just days away, the pressure is building.
