Holding the league’s top record at eleven wins and two losses, the Los Angeles Lakers are already eyeing frontcourt reinforcements ahead of the February 11 trade deadline to back up Walker Kessler.
BasketSession reported that following a 123-112 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, analyst Jovan Buha named Kel’el Ware, Jericho Sims, and Jaxson Hayes as three potential targets to solidify the team’s interior rotation.
Ware brings size, shot-blocking, and upside at age twenty-two, averaging 8.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game for Milwaukee.
“I trouve que Ware s’est vraiment bien battu,” Buha told BasketSession, noting the rookie’s four offensive rebounds and physical battles on the boards against Kessler.
Buha suggested the young center could command a few second-round draft picks, though he expressed skepticism that Milwaukee would part with him for such a modest return. Sims presents a more attainable alternative from the Bucks roster, with the twenty-eight-year-old drawing praise for his defensive mobility in pick-and-roll situations and overall athletic energy despite limited playing time.
Rounding out the trio is Hayes, a former Laker who joined the Utah Jazz on a two-year, twelve-million-dollar contract over the summer after Los Angeles was limited to offering him a minimum salary. The twenty-six-year-old big man has opened the campaign posting 8.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per contest.
| Player | Age | Current Team | Points | Rebounds | Blocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kel’el Ware | 22 | Milwaukee Bucks | 8.5 | 6.5 | 1.1 |
| Jaxson Hayes | 26 | Utah Jazz | 8.5 | 6.1 | 1.5 |
| Jericho Sims | 28 | Milwaukee Bucks | – | – | – |
While these options remain purely analytical targets rather than confirmed trade negotiations, the front office continues evaluating avenues to strengthen their roster before February 11.
