The Los Angeles Lakers badly need a starting-caliber center, and they have been looking for help at that position for some time now.
They lacked a legitimate backup behind Anthony Davis during Davis' last few seasons with them, and once he was sent away in the Luka Doncic deal, they suddenly had a Grand Canyon-sized hole at that position. They had to survive with Jaxson Hayes, who is thin as a reed and not a consistent defensive presence, as their only true 5 on a standard contract since acquiring Doncic.
The Lakers did make a real effort to plug that hole, however.