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By Matt Audilet
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Los Angeles Lakers' 2025-26 season came to a disappointing end with superstar player Luka Doncic on the bench.
Doncic suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain in the final stretch of the Lakers' regular-season campaign, keeping him sidelined throughout the playoffs as LeBron James and his squad suffered a second-round series sweep at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Now, Doncic and the Lakers are gearing up for another season with some uncertainty about the roster.
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According to a report from team insider Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Doncic has one priority heading into his second full season with the Lakers: an "A-list center."
"Luka's first and foremost desire is an A-list center," a source told McMenamin.
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Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes made up the Lakers' center depth chart in 2025-26. Ayton has a player option for next season that he needs to exercise before the end of the month, or he will enter unrestricted free agency.
Doncic plays well alongside athletic, lob-threat big men — as illustrated during his NBA Finals run with the Dallas Mavericks in 2024. Derek Lively and Daniel Gafford both complimented Doncic's play style well, giving him a consistent option to go to at the rim.
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The Lakers have reportedly done their due diligence on two restricted free-agent centers: Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons and Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz.
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