JaVale McGee, Mo Bamba and Lakers Top Targets After Mark Williams Trade Rescinded – Bleacher Report
Everything was looking up for the Los Angeles Lakers.Until it wasn’t.The Lakers made the biggest splash ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline when they acquired Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks in a move that cost them Anthony Davis. While it set the Purple and Gold up with a star for the foreseeable future seeing how Dončić is just 25 years old, it also left them with a hole in the frontcourt.It was a hole they appeared to fill by landing big man Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap.However, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Saturday that the Williams trade was rescinded because the center failed his physical exam due to “multiple issues.”The question now is what do the Lakers do next with a thin frontcourt that might not be ready for a long playoff run, and the answers aren’t that easy since the trade deadline has now passed. They will instead have to turn to the buyout market if they want to add depth beyond Jaxson Hayes.With that in mind, here are some possible buyout targets.There is a former Lakers big man who could catch lobs from Dončić who could be available to play a role off the bench.JaVale McGee is playing in Puerto Rico and is someone who might be open to a return to Los Angeles. He suited up for the team for two seasons in 2018-19 and 2019-20 and even appeared in 14 playoff games during its 2020 championship runThat was the third title of McGee’s career after he previously won two with the Golden State Warriors.He is certainly playoff-tested with 74 postseason games on his resume and could provide energy in short spurts off the bench. He appeared in 46 games for the Sacramento Kings last season and shot 59.8 percent from the field.It would be yet another stop for the veteran journeyman, but he is a familiar name for the Lakers, played in the postseason alongside James in the past, previously played with Dončić in Dallas and would provide some much-needed depth for the stretch run.Mo Bamba is another option who could be a lob threat playing with Dončić.Bamba is available after the Utah Jazz waived him earlier this season, and he would give the Lakers more athleticism and rim protection if they decided to add him. What’s more, he is a familiar name since he played with the Purple and Gold during the 2022-23 season.The No. 6 overall pick of the 2018 NBA draft has failed to live up to the lofty expectations that came with such a draft designation, but he is a solid rebounder and can block shots defensively.He appeared in 28 games for the L.A. Clippers this season and averaged 4.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 12.6 minutes a night.That type of production and the ability to catch lobs from Dončić would work well in short spurts off the bench for the Lakers.If the Lakers want to go with the approach of adding the best player available and worry about team fit later, they could do much worse than veteran Daniel Theis.Theis is available after the Oklahoma City Thunder waived him to create room on their roster, and he is someone who could provide valuable depth for Los Angeles down the stretch. He appeared in 38 games for the New Orleans Pelicans this season and averaged 4.3 points and 4.3 rebounds a night.The 32-year-old is playoff tested with 41 postseason games on his resume and could stretch the floor if needed as a 32.6 percent shooter from deep in his career. Playing with LeBron James and Dončić leads to plenty of space, and he is someone who could take advantage of that.Still, he also isn’t the lob threat to play center in an offense with Dončić dominating the ball.That is notable since ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported the five-time All-NBA selection met with Los Angeles’ front office and “impressed upon them his desire to have” a big man who is mobile and can catch lobs before the Williams trade.Theis isn’t that, which means the team may look elsewhere.
