Feb 1, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) shoots over Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther (3) during the second half of play at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Westerholt-Imagn Images / Brian Westerholt-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Lakers had one of the most chaotic trade deadlines imaginable. After trading for Luka Doncic in exchange for Anthony Davis, and bringing in Mark Williams to replace AD, the Lakers thought they had a complete, well-rounded roster for the rest of the season and beyond. The reports of Williams failing his physical and the team rescinding the trade on Saturday night, however, sent shockwaves among the NBA landscape and Lakers fans.

Now, the Lakers have no starting-caliber centers on the roster. Being a serious championship contender with Jaxson Hayes as your starter and no other traditional big men is a tall order. JJ Redick will have to turn to small lineups or have to hope that Christian Wood and Maxi Kleber can return before the end of the season and give the Lakers something in the playoffs.

The only other option they have is to sign a center through free agency or the buyout market. The free agent market is not robust, but the Lakers may have better options among the buyout candidates. Some veterans whose contracts don’t make sense on their team after the deadline can now be bought out and hit free agency before the end of the regular season.

Before their championship run in the bubble, the Lakers had signed Markieff Morris after he was bought out by the Detroit Pistons. Morris ended up being a major contributor in the playoffs. So, it is certainly possible to find value on the buyout market, especially for a team like the Lakers that can offer a potential starting role on a contender. Let’s take a look at some of the top candidates.

1. Chris Boucher, Toronto Raptors

There has been no indication that the Raptors are trying to buy Chris Boucher but the writing is on the wall for the 32-year-old center. The Raptors aren’t going anywhere this season, his contract expires in the offseason, and the Raptors have Jakob Poeltl and Jonathan Mogbo ahead of him in the rotation.

It’s hard to see the Raptors wanting to keep Boucher for next season and beyond. He makes more sense on a contending team and Toronto could do their long-time veteran a favor by allowing him to play for a playoff team instead of riding the bench on a lottery team.

Boucher is a modern, prototypical center that the Lakers lack. He can space the floor on one end with his shooting and protect the rim on the other.

He is not the strongest or most physical center out there but he has good mobility and an elite wingspan, allowing him to be a deterrent around the basket. He is also a good fit for JJ Redick’s switching scheme on defense, which will likely be even more utilized with Luka Doncic in the mix.

Boucher is obviously not the long-term solution for the Lakers at center but he is a solid stopgap center. A rotation of Jaxson Hayes and Boucher can do different things well and can potentially survive against centers not named Nikola Jokic.

2. Larry Nance Jr., Atlanta Hawks

Another potential option for the Lakers could be a familiar face. Larry Nance Jr. was the Lakers’ first-round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. After 2.5 seasons in Los Angeles, Nance was traded to the Cavaliers and played with LeBron James in his final year in Cleveland, helping them get to the NBA Finals.

Nance had a successful NBA career, albeit often injury-riddled. He has never played more than 67 games in a season, but when he is available, he makes a difference, especially on the defensive end.

As his career evolved and his athleticism subsided, Nance turned himself into a solid defensive big man. In his earlier days, Nance was more of a high-flying forward but over the last couple of years, he has been a decent switchable small-ball center.

At six-foot-eight, he doesn’t have elite size for the position, but he plays bigger than his size. His strength and physicality allow him to guard traditional centers and be a solid option in the post.

Nance is 32 years old and is on an expiring contract with the Atlanta Hawks. Considering how the Hawks are rebuilding and will likely not keep Nance around past this season, they should be interested in buying him out and allowing him to sign with a contender. The Lakers should be the top landing spot in that case.

3. Kelly Olynyk, New Orleans Pelicans

While Olynyk is arguably the best player mentioned so far, he is also the worst fit on the Lakers.

The Lakers desperately need more defense after the Luka Doncic acquisition. With Austin Reaves, Doncic, and LeBron James in the lineup, the remaining two spots have to go to defense-first players to make them a viable playoff defense. Olynyk couldn’t be farther from a defense-first player.

At the same time, he is probably better than his reputation suggests. He moves well, takes charges, and is a smart player overall. While not possessing good athleticism or physical tools, he is 6’11”.

Olynyk’s calling card is on the offensive end of the floor. A versatile offensive player, Olynyk, can handle the ball, shoot, pass, and score the ball in a variety of ways. The 33-year-old Canadian could add another dimension to the Lakers offense, making them utterly unstoppable.

However, Olynyk is among the less likely buyout candidates. He has one more year on his contract, paying him $13.4 million for the 2025-26 season. Agreeing on a contract buyout with so much money left on their deal is only possible if the player really wants to get out of their current situation and play for a title. Whether that is the case for Olynyk remains to be seen.

4. P.J. Tucker, Toronto Raptors

Despite not suiting up at all this season, PJ Tucker is making $11.5 million and was traded three times at the deadline. He eventually landed with the Toronto Raptors but is reportedly not expected to report to the team.

He is arguably the player most likely to be bought out on this list. He will turn 40 years old in May, and this is probably his final season in the NBA. Chasing another ring before he hangs up his sneakers makes sense for the veteran.

While Tucker is expected to be a free agent, how much interest he will generate on the market remains to be seen. We haven’t seen him play at all this season and he wasn’t particularly impressive in his final stints with the Clippers or the Sixers.

At this point in his career, Tucker is an extremely limited offensive player. He can’t do much else except shoot corner threes. He could still potentially be an option guarding bigger players thanks to his strength and physicality, but how many minutes he can play against the best teams in the playoffs is a big question mark.

Among the players the Lakers could realistically get, Tucker has the most playoff experience. He has won a ring with the Bucks and was a huge part of the successful Rockets teams that were challenging the Warriors. He would be a solid locker room addition and a good vet to have around but his time contributing on the court may be over.