The Los Angeles Lakers remained mostly quiet at the NBA trade deadline, making a small move by sending Gabe Vincent and a pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Luke Kennard. While Kennard has performed well in his first few games in Los Angeles, he is unlikely to significantly change the course of the Lakers' 2025-26 season.
After an early playoff exit, which many anticipate will be in a matter of months, the Lakers will have more flexibility to remodel a sensible roster around Luka Doncic, and recently, ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel broke down a name Los Angeles could pursue to add to their frontcourt depth.
"One team we reported on last year that had interest in Yves Missy is the Los Angeles Lakers. They're hitting the market looking for a center, and maybe they can get Missy at a cheap price for a first-round pick," Seagal said on Clutch Scoops, according to Ax, formerly of ClutchPoints on Twitter.
The New Orleans Pelicans tossed Messi's name around in trade rumors leading up to the deadline, notably having talks with the Chicago Bulls, but ultimately made no move regarding their 2024 first-round draft selection.
Meanwhile, the Lakers have been linked to dating Missy since last summer.
Missy would certainly provide an upgrade over Deandre Ayton and Jackson Hayes in the Lakers' frontcourt, as he checks a lot of the same boxes that Derek Lively II and Daniel Gafford did as Doncic's partners with the Dallas Mavericks.
Aside from the trade market, the Lakers should have plenty of room for free agency signings in the offseason when LeBron James is either off the books or back on a significantly reduced contract. Currently, the Lakers have not been able to build a real contender around Doncic, because he and James are receiving huge salaries.
In any case, the Lakers will next be at home against the crosstown rival Los Angeles Clippers on Friday evening.
