The Lakers’ search for a backup center hit a major snag recently, all because the Milwaukee Bucks wanted two future second-round picks for Jericho Sims. Jake Fischer of The Stein Line dropped the bomb on Saturday: discussions were indeed happening, but the teams just couldn’t bridge that draft pick gap.
The Deal That Fell Apart
Remember that preseason roster crunch? Yeah, the one that ended Dalton Knecht’s promising run with the Lakers way too soon when he got cut? Well, turns out the Lakers were desperately trying to avoid that exact scenario, hunting for a backup big man without having to just waive someone. Jericho Sims was high on their radar, an athletic big who’d been on their watch list for ages. Fischer first hinted at a potential swap involving Knecht and Sims back on October 15, but the real kicker, the one that derailed everything, was Milwaukee’s hard line: they weren’t letting Sims go for anything less than *two* future second-round picks. The Lakers, though? They were only budging for one.
Was Sims Worth Two Picks?
So, was Sims really worth two picks? The dude’s played just 1:52 this season, all of it in the third quarter of their first game loss to the Wizards. He’s also on an expiring contract, which makes that asking price even wilder. Think about it: two second-rounders would effectively mean trading Deandre Ayton for Sims, since that’s how the Lakers got those picks in the first place. Sure, you could argue Sims is a better *fit* than Ayton for what the Lakers need right now, but let’s be real, Ayton is a flat-out better player. From a pure talent perspective, that deal just didn’t make sense. You could argue they were attaching a player to offload in that as well, but still, holding that line for one pick feels like the right move by the Lakers.
The Search Continues
Despite making what looks like the smart call by not caving to Milwaukee’s demands, the reality check for the Lakers is this: they *still* need a backup center. Kevon Looney has been straight-up struggling through the first two games of the season, not looking good at all. The good news, if there is any, is that at least we know the front office is actively searching for an upgrade. They know they have a hole, and they’re trying to fill it.
The hunt continues for the Lakers. They stood firm on their draft capital, which is commendable, but the backup center spot is still a question mark. They’ve gotta find someone to shore up that paint, and fast, especially with Looney’s early season form. What big man will they target next?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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