Many expect that if the Los Angeles Lakers are to land a starting-caliber center this offseason, they will do so via a trade. But there is a chance they do so via free agency instead.
In all likelihood, they will only have the taxpayer mid-level exception of just under $5.7 million to offer prospective free agents this summer. That is, unless LeBron James opts out of his current contract and takes a reasonable pay cut on a new one, although he’s reportedly unlikely to do so.
One interesting veteran center who could be had in free agency is Clint Capela of the Atlanta Hawks. Per insider Anthony Irwin, Capela is “expected to sit pretty high on the Lakers’ target board.”
Capela, 31, just completed his 11th season in the NBA. While he isn’t quite as athletic as he was several years ago when he played for the Houston Rockets, he can still be a lob threat, and he remains a solid shot-blocker and a strong rebounder.
This season, he averaged 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 21.4 minutes a game while making 55.9% of his field-goal attempts. He made $22.3 million this season, and while he may not be a long-term solution for Los Angeles, he could provide it with a couple of serviceable seasons as it looks to win its 18th NBA championship.