Expose the Lakers or chase Poeltl: Ujeri's asking price is extremely high, and Pee is only willing to send Reaves for the cornerstone

On May 16, Beijing time, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that if Poeltl's contract extension with the Raptors fails, teams like the Lakers seeking center upgrades may be interested in trading. Poeltl had previously expressed his desire to renew his contract with the team, and Raptors general manager Ugery also called him a "pillar" of the team at the season's end-of-season press conference.

The Lakers' need to upgrade the center position in the offseason has been well known, especially after being completely overwhelmed by opponents on the inside in the playoffs. There are many ways for the Lakers to bolster that position, but a trade is highly likely, and Raptors center Poeltl is one of the potential targets.

Poeltl has just had the best season of his career and is the ideal type of center for the Lakers: a top-tier basket protector and rebounder, excellent finishers, and theoretically an efficient pick-and-roll combination with Doncic.

Although it is unclear whether Poeltl will be tradable, the big man is seeking a contract extension. If the Raptors fail to reach a deal with him, the Lakers are likely to pursue him through a trade.

Poeltl's salary for the 2025-26 season is $19.5 million, with a player option for the same amount for the 2026-27 season. It's worth noting that Ujri, the general manager of the Raptors, is known for his "extremely high asking price", and even if Poeltl enters the trade market, the Lakers will have to pay a high price. Still, he's an ideal candidate to immediately improve the Lakers' frontcourt.

Last season, Poeltl averaged 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 62.7 percent from the field. While he lacks space projection, the Lakers don't necessarily need it, and his contributions in other areas make up for it. Whether the target is Poeltl or other available players, Lakers management will go all out to bring in the big man the team desperately needs.

In addition, Los Angeles reported that Pelinka is only willing to trade Reaves for the 'cornerstone player'. In any trade talks, the Raptors and other teams could ask the Lakers for Reaves, but the Lakers are nearly impossible to send him away. Recent reports have pointed out that all the key figures within the Lakers value Reaves very much, and unless he can be traded for a "cornerstone player" who can be the core of the future team, the chances of him being traded are extremely low.