Apr 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) reacts on the court after a three-point basket by guard Marcus Smart (36) in the first half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

As the Los Angeles Lakers search for roster upgrades, a new report hints one veteran may already have an edge over the other.