Lakers Eye Veteran Bigs to Fill Backup Center Role After Ayton Trade

After trading Deandre Ayton to Washington, the Lakers are exploring veteran backup center options, with Andre Drummond, Jonas Valanciunas and Kevon Looney among the names linked. They had previously added Walker Kessler via a sign-and-trade and lost Jaxson Hayes to the Jazz, leaving a need at the wing as well. The move could provide cap flexibility and draft capital for future deals, with potential trades if free agents don’t fit.