The Lakers may introduce Clarkston in the offseason to solve the team s frontcourt problems

According to reports from F/W contributor Sidante Gupta. The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the most mentioned teams in the trading market, and the team will seek a sensational deal after outlining an action plan to improve the roster and re-enter the title battle. Given that the Lakers have been described as a market for superstars, the team is associated with some well-known figures in the industry amid the rumors. While exciting, it may not be the ideal approach for a team with Dong Zhan as its core.

Given the caps of the star duo in the team, it is unlikely that they will take action for another star without giving up on significant value. Instead, the Purple Gold Legion still has some assets to use to improve their roster while solving key issues. Lakers general manager Robert Pelinka has made it very clear that the Lakers are looking for specific players, especially in the frontcourt. With that in mind, the Purple Gold Legion has been linked to several available big men on the trading market as well as some reliable wingers. With these aspects in mind, a recent report shows some potential targets the Lakers can reach to address their frontcourt depth issues as well as their perimeter issues.

The Lakers can bring in Clarkston to get a qualified center

The Lakers have previously been associated with Brooklyn Nets center Clarkston. Clarkston also seems to meet the Lakers' requirements for big men. At 6-foot-11, the Nets center showed a big advantage on the defensive end. While he is not a strong player, the 26-year-old is very capable of leveraging his height on the rebound while showing his outstanding athleticism under his size. Clarkston averaged 10.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in his 2024-25 season with the Nets. As their primary defender in the paint area, he also averaged 1.4 blocks and 0.9 steals per game. As a young and athletic center, he posed an innate under the basket threat. This makes him an ideal partner for Doncic, who is known for utilizing his pick-and-roll tactics with his big guys.

In addition, Clarkston is very capable of maintaining his position in the paint area. The Lakers lack paint and basket protection, which proved to be a clear flaw in their playoff showdown with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Although the Nets center can't change their defensive rotation, he certainly showed enough advantage to fill the gap. The acquisition of the 26-year-old will require the Lakers to part ways with some valuable assets as his upcoming cap hits $25.3 million. But given the possible rewards they may be, this may prove to be a risk worth the risk. The specific plan is:

Lakers get: Clarkston

Nets get: Hachimura Hachimura Hachimura Hachimura Hachimura Vincent, 2031 first-round draft picks

This deal caused the Lakers to lose Hachimura Hachimura Hachimura and Vincent. Their departure will have a huge impact on the team's outside shooting. In order to solve this problem, the Lakers can consider taking the next steps to improve their lineup integrity; for example, Redick can enable more Kneckett and the healthy Kleber is still worth looking forward to, but the biggest lineup adjustment is to strengthen the center. What do you think?