Can the Lakers Make Real (and Needed) Improvement at Center?

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

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4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 20 May 2026

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes were, in the aggregate, more good than bad over the course of this season, at least relative to what they were being paid. But unless you think the Ayton the Lakers got over the last eight weeks of the season will be the Ayton they get over 82 games next year -- which would definitely be a nice bargain for eight mil or so -- the Lakers definitely could use an upgrade. But how? Free agency offers little by way of impact centers. The trade market is hard to negotiate. And of course, the Lakers have to prioritize. So how far could they go to find better personnel? How far should they go? Sooooooo many questions... plus, some hypothetical trades to fill the void! HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers have a center problem. SEGMENT 2: Would someone like Myles Turner work? SEGMENT 3: What about a bold (and totally hypothetical) sign and trade? Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGYThe funfetti flavor is BACK on https://5hourEnergy.com or Amazon, crack open Confetti Craze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today! KALSHIFor a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. RedditReddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps. QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. PrizePicksDownload the PrizePicks app today and use codeLOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Transcript

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0:00.0	The Lakers have a big, needed center, but not necessarily that many ways to fill it.
0:05.7	We'll explain what they might be able to do next.
0:14.4	You are Locked-on Lakers.
0:16.8	Your daily Los Angeles Lakers podcast, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day.
0:25.3	Thanks to everybody for stopping by Locked on Lakers, Brian Komenetsky, Andy Komenetsky.
0:29.5	As we continue to kind of break down what the Lakers looking at as we get closer and closer to the summertime.
0:37.2	Looking today at the center position and what might come of that, Andy.
0:44.2	The Lakers, I think, did about as well as they could given their restrictions last year
0:51.8	in terms of money available assets and things like that when they
0:55.0	re-signed Jackson Hayes slotted him back in a backup position and then was able to
1:01.6	where they were able to bring in DeAndre Aiton who was I think in the two of them overall I
1:07.3	think were pretty good like in the regular season when it's all said and done.
1:12.1	Certainly for the amount of money they were being paid, they provided more value than that.
1:17.3	But obviously, when the Lakers got to the second round against Oklahoma City, both those guys were pretty clearly overmatch.
1:25.2	So the general consensus hasn't seemed to change.
1:28.7	They need an upgraded center.
1:31.1	Yeah, I think both Aiton and Hayes individually, like you said, were fine.
1:37.1	And I think both of them had some highs during the season.
1:40.3	I think Jackson Hayes improved a lot from last year to be like a legitimately quality
1:47.4	backup, if not necessarily a luxury as a backup, certainly quality.
1:51.5	And DeAndre Aiton had highs during the season.
1:54.4	I think sometimes his highs were underrated, but the lows could be very, very stark.
	...

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