Lakers rumors: Luka Doncic sends ‘A-list’ demand to front office for this offseason

The Los Angeles Lakers have some decisions to make this offseason if they want to continue to stay in the Western Conference race for years to come. So far, all of the attention has been on Austin Reaves and LeBron James, both of whom could command a lot of money in free agency. The good news is that the Lakers are open to re-signing them to help Luka Doncic.

Speaking of Doncic, he also has some requests on who he wants to play with, and since he was traded to the Lakers last season, the one thing he’s wanted is an A-list center. There are two options that the Lakers have done their research on, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

“There are several restricted free agents the Lakers have already done their due diligence on, sources familiar with the team’s thinking told ESPN. Two of them, Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons and Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz, would satisfy Doncic’s directive to secure an A-list center,” McMenamin wrote.

The Lakers’ interest in Duren goes back to last season at the deadline, right after they acquired Doncic, in an effort to pair him alongside a top-tier center, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.

Since then, Duren has gotten better and is looking for a max contract, and the Pistons seem to be willing to give him what he wants. It’s uncertain if they just plan to extend him outright or let him find a deal elsewhere so they can match it. Either way, it seems like the Lakers might have a hard time luring him from the Pistons.

As for Kessler, he and the Jazz haven’t been on the same page with an agreement, as they offered him $140 million. The Lakers could try to lure him away from the Jazz, but there is optimism that they’re going to get a deal done at some point.

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