The Los Angeles Lakers accomplished their main goal of acquiring a starting-caliber center in the early stages of the 2025 NBA offseason.

Los Angeles was able to sign former No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Deandre Ayton, to a 2-year, $16 million deal after feeling the effects of the post-Anthony Davis era.

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The Lakers’ 26-year-old phenom Luka Dončić and 21-time All-Star LeBron James struggled mightily to lead the storied franchise in the 2025 postseason without an imposing center talent, and Ayton’s arrival in Los Angeles certainly solves plenty of pertinent issues. On the other hand, more work can be done to make sure the ex-Portland Trail Blazers big man has adequate reserve help in 2025-26.

In fact, ClutchPoints’ Bailey Bassett recently asserted that the Lakers should look into a certain unrestricted free agent backup big from the Eastern Conference to shore up their frontcourt rotation under second-year head coach JJ Redick.

“Even after the addition of Deandre Ayton, the Los Angeles Lakers could still use some big-man help,” Bassett wrote Thursday.

“Precious Achiuwa is one of the few centers left on the open market.”

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“He can provide energy and rebounding, and he has experience playing for a big-market team.”

Coming off of an intriguing 5th NBA campaign as a member of the New York Knicks, Achiuwa may be ready to explore his options and make a move to the West.

In 57 appearances for the Knicks this past regular season, the 6-foot-8 center posted figures of 6.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 0.7 blocks while knocking down 50.2% of his attempts from the field in just 20.5 minutes. When the 2025 postseason came around, the 25-year-old athlete was all-but removed from the Knicks’ rotation under former head coach Tom Thibodeau.

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With Achiuwa’s playing time slashed in the biggest moments as a result of Thibodeau’s coaching philosophy, it could be time for the Lakers to welcome the agile big man aboard.

The Lakers did also re-sign their pure lob threat and shot-blocking center Jaxson Hayes to a one-year deal this offseason, but Achiuwa’s hypothetical arrival could be viewed as a cautionary move.

More NBA: Brook Lopez almost signed with Lakers after leaving Bucks: Report