NBA Trade Rumors: LA Lakers Get Their Center In Proposed Big Offseason Trade

The Los Angeles Lakers have been trying since last summer to land themselves a legit center—originally, because they wanted to move Anthony Davis more to the power forward spot, now, because... well, they desperately need one.

They tried to trade for one at the deadline, but they failed Mark Williams on his physical and he was sent back to the Charlotte Hornets.

But according to Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report, the Lakers could land themselves a very solid 'five' in Nikola Vucevic of the Chicago Bulls, if his hypothetical trade came to fruition:

Los Angeles Lakers Receive:

C Nikola Vučević

Chicago Bulls Receive:

F Rui Hachimura
G Shake Milton
2025 second-round pick

The two-time All-Star, Vucevic is having another solid season at the age of 34, averaging 18.5 points with 10.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists, while shooting threes at a 40% clip. He only has one year remaining on his contract, at $21.5M, so the financial commitment is not onerous at all.

The Lakers are currently using Jaxson Hayes as their starting center, and they actually have 6'7" forward Dorian Finney-Smith slotted in as the backup at the pivot.

The Bulls have been wanting to unload Vucevic all season, ahead of his impending free agency in the summer of 2026, and the Lakers would be an ideal destination.

Chicago, in return, would get themselves one of the top up-and-coming small forwards in Hachimura, who's shooting over 40% from long distance for the second straight year.

The Lakers' need for a starting center was exacerbated, of course, when they dealt Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in the shocking Luka Doncic deal.