NBA Rumors: Lakers set sights on 7-foot Jamaican center amid big-man void on roster

The Los Angeles Lakers look to address their big-man concerns amid the absence of three frontcourt players on their roster. Jarred Vanderbilt, Chrisitan Koloko, and Christian Wood are all injured.

All three players could return at any point in the season but the team still looks to add another big man while the injured players recover.

The Lakers have reportedly set their eyes on trading for Jamaican center Nick Richards. According to Brett Siegel, the organization has shown interest in the Charlotte Hornets big man. Richards has gradually developed into a solid starting center for the Hornets over the past four seasons.

Siegel reported that Los Angeles has considered various options over the summer as a potential trade target.

"The Lakers expressed interest in several possible trade targets during the summer, league sources confirmed to ClutchPoints. One of the players they expressed interest in was Nick Richards from the Charlotte Hornets," Siegel reported.

Apart from that, the team's only summer activity was to bring on JJ Redick as head coach. According to Siegel, the Purple & Gold haven't gained any momentum in their pursuit of the big man. Their interest in trading for the seven-foot center dates back to the 2023-24 NBA trade deadline.

Richards averaged 6.7 points and 5.3 rebounds over his four seasons with the Hornets. The previous season was his best season to date, as he finished with 9.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game.

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Former Celtic potentially among Lakers' trade targets

Wood is expected to be re-evaluated during the first week of November. Vanderbilt, on the other hand, is expected to make a return at the start of the season, while the Lakers wait on the clearance for Koloko from the league's Fitness-to-Play panel of doctors.

With that in mind, the team has looked to other options to aid their lackluster frontcourt group. They've explored multiple options for a potential trade and one of the most notable targets is former Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III.

Unfortunately, the big man is dealing with an injury, which means trading for him isn't ideal. On Oct. 4, Williams was diagnosed with a grade 1 hamstring strain and is expected to miss at least two weeks of action.

"They got me ramping back on court now," Williams said. "Hamstring's kind of sensitive, so when it first happens, you gotta take it lightly."

Last season, Williams appeared in only six games, averaging 6.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.