A $15.7 Million Backup Is Luka's Dream, And The Lakers Might Still Miss Out

Okay, forget about the Mariners' early season grind or how the Kraken are setting up for next year for just a sec. Because man, the NBA drama never stops, especially when it involves Luka Dončić down in LA. This dude, the Lakers' absolute superstar, just laid out his demands for next season: he wants an "A-list center." And he's not being vague, telling fans he needs a big man "who can run the pick-and-roll and jump to the rim." Seriously, can you believe he's putting it all out there like that? Lakers fans are already buzzing, trying to figure out who's gonna be their next starting big.

The Hunt for Luka's Perfect Big Man

So, even before Luka dropped those bombshell comments, the Lakers had a center problem, no surprise there. Jaxson Hayes became an unrestricted free agent after the 2025-26 season, and Deandre Ayton? He's got an $8.1 million player option. Both are up in the air, meaning the Lakers basically have to rebuild their frontcourt around their six-time All-Star. League insider Dan Woike, bless his heart, jumped into a Q&A to answer the burning question: who's the guy? He mentioned Utah Jazz's 7-foot-2 behemoth, Walker Kessler, as a name LA was checking out. But come on, the Jazz are probably never letting that dude go, right?

Yves Missi: The $15.7 Million Question Mark

Woike, though, always has a backup plan, just like any good GM (or a dude texting his buddy after a game, am I right?). He threw out another name as a potential alternative: Yves Missi. Now, the big question is, can Missi actually 'completely thrive' in a Dončić system? On paper, his skills seem to fit the bill. But Woike hit the nail on the head, asking if Missi can truly deliver in

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those 'high-leverage moments' like Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II did for Luka when he dragged the Dallas Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals. That's a 'very to be determined' situation, and it's a huge gamble. Remember, Hayes was supposed to be that guy for LA, built in the same mode, but he was often inconsistent. And Ayton? He flat out called his team out last February for trying to turn him into a Clint Capela, essentially saying 'that's not me.' Oof, talk about internal drama. Missi himself signed a $15.7 million rookie contract back in 2024, which is a pretty sweet deal for a young guy. He's primarily been the backup center for the New Orleans Pelicans, a role that will likely continue with Derik Queen impressing the team following a stellar rookie campaign. Still, New Orleans, which limped to a 26-56 record last season, could absolutely use Missi’s physical play, nose for the ball, defense, and rebounding to get better. So, with him still having value and a good contract, why would they even think about giving him up, especially to a Western Conference foe? Here's the kicker: Woike added that the Lakers are having some 'bad luck' trying to find a rim-running, rim-protecting center. Apparently, there just aren't many of them out there! And to make matters worse, LA doesn't have the cap flexibility after their other moves to chase elite centers. So, Missi is within their price range, but will the Pelicans really ship him off to a Western Conference rival? Or make him available at all? Man, talk about a tough spot. You gotta wonder if Luka's gonna get what he wants, or if this whole thing is gonna blow up in the Lakers' face. Either way, it's another wild chapter in the NBA rumor mill. Maybe the Mariners will just sweep their next series and we can all chill.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.