Reports say the Lakers plan to bring in White Magic! Misi, Richards, and Melton are also targets; Ayton might not start?

On July 3rd Beijing time, Lakers reporter Anthony Irwin shared insider information about the Ayton signing and the team's next moves in player acquisition. Notably, Rockets' Whitmore is now among the players the Lakers are focusing on. Here is Irwin’s detailed report—

After the Lakers reached an agreement to sign Ayton, sources close to the team revealed thatthe Lakers are now shifting their focus toward wing players and further strengthening depth at the center positionwhether through free agency or trades. Previously, Ayton had been choosing between the Pacers, Lakers, and Warriors, ultimately selecting the Purple and Gold.

Although Ayton is currently the most talented big man available on the market, reports indicate thatthere is some internal debate within the Lakers about whether he should be the starting center. Ideally, they want to sign a player with similar talent to Ayton but with different skill sets—especially someone who can stretch the floor offensively. However, when describing their intentions for the center position, the most frequently mentioned term is “depth.”

Sources say Ayton’s contract will consume the remainder of the Lakers’ full mid-level exception this year, with the second year being a player option. Currently, the Lakers still have the bi-annual exception and veteran minimum contracts available.De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford have both been linked to the Lakers, but Melton is considered the more likely candidate to join. Melton clearly leans toward playing guard, but his on-court performance shows a toughness beyond what his height suggests, and if signed, he would instantly become one of the Lakers’ best ball-defenders in recent years.

Regarding trade assets, the Lakers still hold the expiring contracts of Vincent and Kleber, and they can trade their own first-round picks in 2031 or 2032. Knecht’s name has come up in multiple trade talks this summer; last year he was included in a trade for Mark Williams that was eventually rescinded. Rui Hachimura is also frequently mentioned by other teams when contacting the Lakers. Even Austin Reaves, after declining a max extension to remain with the Lakers, is considered unlikely to be traded.

As for trade negotiations, as previously reported, the Lakers have engaged with the Trail Blazers about Robert Williams and with the Miami Heat regarding Wiggins. Sources saythese talks hit obstacles, after which the Lakers shifted their focus toward pursuing Ayton. However, these negotiations could restart at any time,and Pelinka has been in frequent communication with Trail Blazers GM Cronin.

League insiders also mentioned another name connected to the Lakers: Cam Whitmore. If the Houston Rockets decide to reduce salary or expand the scope of a trade involving Kevin Durant to include newly acquired Fini Smith, then Whitmore—who is seeking a more significant role than he currently has on the Rockets’ deep roster—could be considered a trade candidate. During the 2023 draft, many in the Lakers’ scouting team rated Whitmore from Villanova highly, but due to concerns about his health history, the team ultimately chose Hood Hephino instead. Ironically, Hood Hephino has barely played for the Lakers due to his own health issues.

On the center front, ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel reported thatthe Lakers are interested in Yves Misi from the New Orleans Pelicans.According to sources close to the Lakers, they initially planned to draft Misi last year but switched to Knecht when he fell to a more favorable draft position. Nevertheless, Misi still has plenty of supporters within the Lakers organization. However, after a strong rookie season, acquiring him will not come cheap.

Nick Richards is another target for the Lakers, but rather than teams giving up assets for him, he is more likely to be bought out or waived. Under the current collective bargaining agreement, teams often wait for players with expiring contracts to hit the buyout market instead of trading assets. Richards might also be included in a large sign-and-trade deal.

Does this mean the Lakers will definitely acquire all these players through trades? Obviously not. The key is to give insight into the Lakers’ recruitment targets and the types of players they are pursuing. In other words, after successfully signing Ayton, Pelinka is still actively working, and because of this signing, other teams can no longer assume the Lakers are desperate to add anyone at center, giving the Lakers more leverage in negotiations.