The Lakers made major waves with their frontcourt moves this offseason, but even with Walker Kessler on board, they’re still on the hunt for center reinforcements. This isn’t going to be an easy grab either, especially with a stacked roster already causing headaches.
The New Look Frontcourt and The Kevon Looney Problem
After what felt like ages trying to sort out their bigs, the Lakers finally pulled the trigger on some serious changes. Deandre Ayton, Maxi Kleber, and Jaxson Hayes are all out, making room for a fresh look. The big splash? Trading for Walker Kessler, who everyone’s eyeing as the “big of the future,” and signing Kevon Looney. Good news on Kessler, he says he’s “good to go health-wise,” so hopefully those injury concerns are officially in the rearview mirror. But here’s the kicker: even with Kessler locked in as the starter, they’re not done, not by a long shot. Kevon Looney, who only hit the court for 21 games last season, doesn’t exactly scream “reliable backup!” He’s an older, more limited player whose offensive production just isn’t what it used to be. With the Pelicans last year, he scraped by with just 2.8 points per game and shot a mere 41.7% from the field. It’s hard to imagine him replicating Hayes’ minutes, let alone that kind of production. Honestly, Looney would be a much better fit as a third-string big, like Maxi Kleber’s old role, where he can be a professional presence without the pressure of significant minutes.
Roster Crunch and The Messy Market
So, the team needs more depth at center, but where do they even put another guy? The Lakers are already sitting on 16 guaranteed contracts and have zero open roster spots! Talk about a tight squeeze. And if you think the open market will be a savior, think again. The center market right now is, to put it mildly, “a mess.” It’s not exactly brimming with high-impact talent just waiting to be signed. If they do manage to pull off an unrestricted free agent signing, Nick Richards and Drew Eubanks are still out there. Richards put up 5.8 points and 5.1 boards last season, but really showed out with the Bulls after a midseason trade, bumping his averages to 9.4 points and 7.6 rebounds in a bigger role. Eubanks, who played for the Kings, averaged 5.2 points and shot 59.6% from the field. Whether they make a trade or sign one of these guys, the goal is crystal clear: snag another backup center.
The frontcourt is just too important for the Lakers to leave this unresolved. They’ve gotta figure out how to add that crucial depth before the season even tips off. The big question looming over LA right now isn’t if they’ll get someone, but who it’s actually going to be.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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