The Los Angeles Lakers entered the offseason with a clear and pressing need: upgrade at center. But as free agency unfolds, they’ve watched their top two targets—Clint Capela and Brook Lopez—sign elsewhere, leaving the Lakers scrambling for alternatives.

Capela, who had been linked most closely to L.A., signed a multi-year deal with the Houston Rockets, adding veteran presence to a frontcourt already featuring Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams. Though his production has dipped slightly with age and decreased minutes, Capela still brings value as a rim protector and pick-and-roll finisher. In 55 games last season with the Atlanta Hawks, the 31-year-old averaged 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in just over 21 minutes per game. While he’s no longer the dominant rebounder he once was, his reliability made him a natural fit for the Lakers’ needs.

Insider's Sources Reveals 3 Realistic Los Angeles Lakers Targets In Latest NBA Trade Rumors 1 Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Meanwhile, Brook Lopez—long seen as a potential reunion candidate after spending the 2017–18 season in L.A.—opted to stay in the city, but with the Clippers. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Lopez agreed to a two-year, $18 million deal with the Lakers’ crosstown rivals, using their mid-level exception. The 37-year-old remains one of the league’s premier floor-spacing big men, averaging 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks while shooting 37.3% from deep this past season in Milwaukee.

So far, the Lakers’ only roster additions have been youth-oriented—drafting Adou Thiero and signing Jake LaRavia. While intriguing long-term pieces, neither addresses the team’s immediate frontcourt concerns. With Lopez and Capela off the board, L.A. is now expected to pivot toward Deandre Ayton, Nick Richards, or explore the trade market.

For a franchise aiming to compete now, it’s been a quiet and troubling start.