According to NBA veteran reporter Anthony Irving, the Los Angeles Lakers' top priority this summer is to strengthen the center position. They plan to introduce more than one inside player to make up for the lineup shortcomings exposed in the playoffs.

The Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs for the third consecutive year this season, and the hidden dangers of their inside lineup were exposed. The team could only rely on Jackson Hayes to support the inside line in the playoffs, and the original plan to introduce Hornets center Mark Williams failed to go because he failed the physical examination.

It is widely believed that the Lakers' failure to convert Christian Koloko or Trey Jamison to official contracts before the end of the regular season was a major failure of management.

According to Anthony Irving, Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka has been very active recently and has started exploratory negotiations with multiple teams on the previously unsuccessful center trade plan. He also learned that the Lakers plan to introduce a finisher who is good at alley-oops for Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves, and head coach JJ Redick has shown great interest in a tall center with the ability to open up space.

There are also reports that the Lakers' current inside targets include Nicolas Claxton of the Nets, Daniel Gafford of the Mavericks and other potential candidates.

Anthony Irving further pointed out that the Lakers are considering using both the free agent market and the trade market to search for a center that fits the team system. If the Lakers get a center who is good at catching dunks through a trade, they are very likely to sign a center with shooting ability or a strong body in the free agent market. Vice versa.