LA Lakers Eyeing 2 Notable Centers on Trade Market

The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a middling 5-4 start to the young NBA season, and we know there will be moves on the trade market and within their roster that they will want to make as the campaign goes along to steel themselves as a strong playoff contender.

"The trade things that we absolutely know to be true (about the Lakers)," said insider Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, is that "D'Angelo Russell is going to be on the block, and is going to be available as outgoing salary ($18.7 million). And the center spot is a spot that we know LA will be looking to upgrade".

Both the team and Anthony Davis would like AD to play more at the power forward spot than at the 'five', but they'll have to obtain a starting caliber center first.

With that, Fischer has pointed at two notable centers that could and should be on the trade market that the Purple & Gold will target:

Brook Lopez

The 36-year-old has been one of the top defensive centers in the league for most of his career, and finished second for Defensive Player of the Year just the season before last. He has averaged two blocks per game over his 17 years in the NBA.

The Milwaukee Bucks, however, are at a crossroads after their 2-7 start this season, and could be looking to make some big moves later this season. Lopez would be gettable for the right price.

"He is someone that I was told is on the Lakers' list of potential center targets," said Fischer.

Jonas Valanciunas

JV is "another name I would keep an eye on for the future there. (His contract) is very, very tradable, and it's someone I was told over the summer is on the Lakers internal board of center options," says Fischer.

Valanciunas signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Washington Wizards this past summer in free agency, but many observers believe that move was just in order to trade him, as the Wiz are in a rebuilding phase, and at the age of 32, JV doesn't really fit their timeline.

In his three previous seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans, Valanciunas averaged 14.6 points and 10.1 rebounds while shooting 55% from the field. His defense in the pivot is nothing to write home about, but AD could help with that from the four spot if he were to come to the Lakers.